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Design Review Committee Meeting

Date: March 18, 2026

Time: 1:30 p.m.

:

In-Person Meeting Information
Members of the public can attend in person at the following location:

Permit Sonoma Hearing Room
2550 Ventura Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Webinar Information
Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting by calling in or by using the Zoom application:

Zoom: Join Meeting >>
Telephone:1 (669) 444-9171
Webinar ID:  871 7781 5481
Password: 717009

Registration Required: No

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Attachments:

The Design Review Committee (DRC) reviews and approves the design of significant new development projects, such as new commercial development. The Committee considers building and site design, architecture, colors, lighting, signs, landscaping and other design-related issues.

The Design Review Committee has three members appointed by the Director of PRMD. There is an architect, a landscape architect and one PRMD staff member. Design Review meetings are open to the public, and certain projects are reviewed at a noticed public hearing. Some decisions of the DRC can be appealed to the Planning Commission.

The Design Review Committee meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month (and as needed).

Agenda

Committee Members

Wil Lyons, Chair
Gary Helfrich, Staff
Suzanne Hartman, City of Santa Rosa Planner (item #1)

Staff Members

Derik Michaelson, Staff
Jen Chard, Staff
Liz Goebel, Secretary

View documents digitally for all items listed »

1:30 p.m. Chair Introduction

County Regular Item

Item No:

1

Time:

1:30 PM

File No.:

PLP22-0017

Staff:

Derik Michaelson

Subject:

Hotel

Proposal:

Design plans for a new five-story, 128-room hotel building, a 3,000sf new quick-service restaurant, and remodeling of an existing gas station with replacement of four fuel dispensers, two underground storage tanks, and a 2,733sf service canopy, a 3,968sf new convenience store, and a 1,132sf new carwash tunnel with a 352sf equipment room, plus associated building signage and parking and landscaping improvements on a 3.24-acre parcel.

Applicant:

Ibrahim Muthana c/o M.I. Architects, Inc.

Location:

3785 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa

APN:

134-123-021

District:

3

Zoning:

C2 (Retail and Business Services District); VOH (Valley Oak Habitat)

DRC Level:

Preliminary

Public Hearing:

Yes

Last Review:

August 21, 2024

Recommendation:

Review applicant response to preliminary DRC comments and forward recommendation on final considerations to Planning Commission.

CEQA Review:

Mitigated Negative Declaration

Item No:

2

Time:

At or after 1:35 PM

File No.:

UPE12-0031

Staff:

Jen Chard

Subject:

Composting facility

Proposal:

Request for a Use Permit to allow construction and operation of a new commercial composting facility with a 9.43-acre concrete aerated composting pad capable of processing 185,000 tons of feedstocks per year. The Project includes a 9-acre agricultural products pad and new structures include an office with parking area, employee breakroom and restroom, storage building and mechanics workshop, two scales (one entrance and one exit scale), and an operations control center. The facility would operate with 15 – 20 employees, (7) days a week from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM with commercial deliveries limited between 6:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Water would be provided by an existing reservoir, City of Petaluma recycled water, and re-use of compost process water. An existing onsite domestic well would be used for employee drinking water and restrooms. A new 800-gallon septic tank and system would be installed to support on-site employees. The compost facility footprint would occupy 35.10-acres of a 156.76-acre parcel currently subject to a Land Conservation (Williamson Act) Contract. The Use Permit application includes a request for a full or partial immediate cancellation of the

Williamson Act Contrac

Applicant:

Allan Tose

Location:

2535 Stage Gulch Rd., Petaluma

APN:

068-040-015

District:

2

Zoning:

Land Extensive Agriculture (allowed density: 60 acres per dwelling) and combining zones for Accessory Dwelling Unit Exclusion, Riparian Corridor with 50-foot and 25-foot setbacks, Scenic Resources, and Valley Oak Habitat. (LEA B6 60 Z, RC50/25 SR VOH)

DRC Level:

Concept

Public Hearing:

No

Last Review:

September 18, 2025

Recommendation:

Recommend approval of the compost facility design, colors, materials, exterior lighting, parking and landscape plans to the Board of Zoning Adjustments.

CEQA Review:

Environmental Impact Report

Public Comments

Please follow the instructions below to submit a public comment in writing, email, or in person via the hearing room. The DRC invites interested persons to submit comments which are entered into the permanent record. Written comments received prior to and during the hearing are distributed to the commissioners, staff, and are available to the public via the public copies link in the calendar section of this agenda. Written comments received after the package is made public may be read into the record.

Email Public Comment

You may email DesignReview@sonomacounty.gov to submit public comment. Provide your name, the project number, and your comment. It is advised that you mail or email public comments in advance of the hearing date to give the commissioners and staff time to review. Emailed comments received during the hearing are distributed to the commissioners and staff but are not read out loud into the record. All public comments received prior to, during, and after the hearing are saved to the project file.

Written Public Comments

Submit letters prior to the hearing by mail addressed to:

Permit Sonoma
Attn: Design Review Committee Secretary
2550 Ventura Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Please make sure to reference the project number in your written comment.

Public Appearances for Agenda Items

DRC hearings begin at 1:30 p.m. and will be recorded. Agenda items begin on or after their designated time. After a county staff project presentation and committee questions, the public hearing is then opened. At that time, the applicant may give a 10-minute project presentation followed by public comments. The time limit for public comments is at the Chair’s discretion and is typically three minutes per speaker. Please state your name for the record when you are called upon. Questions raised by the public may be answered after all public comments are given. The Committee may request staff or the applicant to answer questions, and the applicant is given the opportunity to respond to any public comments. The public hearing is then closed, and no further public comments are received. The Committee will discuss the project and make a decision by motion and roll call vote.

Be Respectful

Please Be Respectful of others and the varying points of view. No clapping, booing, or speaking out of turn.

Be Courteous

Please Be Courteous by switching cell phones to silent while the meeting is in session.