Project coverageSanta Rosa

Economic Development

Every published summary we have tied to Economic Development in Santa Rosa, grouped into one page so residents can follow the issue without digging through individual meetings.

Summaries

Municipality

Santa Rosa

Last updated

Aug 6, 2026

Related summaries

Meeting coverage connected to Economic Development.

Briefing

Aug 4, 2026

Council Advances Downtown Housing Development

Santa Rosa approved changes to its high-density multifamily housing incentive program, including revised development fees and water and wastewater payment options, with the program extended through August 31, 2031. The Council also authorized $1,496,623.27 in additional disaster-recovery funds for Coffey Park and Fountaingrove neighborhood roads.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jul 28, 2026

Council Sends Sales Tax Measure to Voters

The City Council voted 6-0 to place a measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot that would replace Santa Rosa’s existing half-cent sales tax with a one-cent tax continuing until voters end it. The council also approved a $30 million Homekey Plus grant application, a $750,000 Southeast Greenway donation, and $4.44 million in drinking water grant funding.

3 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jul 23, 2026

Carwash Approved on Santa Rosa Avenue

The Zoning Administrator approved a minor conditional use permit and design review for a new carwash at 2700 Santa Rosa Avenue, replacing a vacant office building on an approximately 0.84-acre commercial site.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jul 9, 2026

Zoning Administrator Approves Two Projects

Santa Rosa approved a rooftop wireless facility modification at 2323 Montgomery Drive and a 15-bed community care facility at 170 Sotoyome Street.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 25, 2026

Planning Commission approves two projects

The Planning Commission approved a 15-bed community care facility at 631 Benjamins Road and a retail market with alcohol sales and extended hours at 1995 Sebastopol Road.

3 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 25, 2026

Zoning decisions approved

Three land-use permits were approved: a new 6,640-square-foot single-family home on Skyfarm Drive, a pool and spa on Crescent Circle, and a mobile food vending permit on Coffey Lane.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 16, 2026

Budget, housing, and downtown strategy approved

Council adopted the 2026-27 city budget and capital plan, approved housing and homelessness funding agreements totaling millions of dollars, and advanced downtown and North Santa Rosa planning work. It also bought the 2908 Santa Rosa Avenue property for the future Fire Station No. 9 and adopted revised Santa Rosa Water and animal services plans and fees.

4 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 4, 2026

Hotel project approved

The board approved major design review for a new 70-room hotel at 3331 and 3555 Highway 12, including an outdoor pool, garden and courtyard spaces, parking, landscaping, and related site improvements. The board also adopted its rules and regulations and selected Adam Sharron as vice chair.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 4, 2026

Zoning Administrator meeting summary

The Zoning Administrator approved a Minor Design Review (Resolution No. ZA-RES-2026-024) for the Sonoma County Children’s Museum expansion at 1835 W Steele Lane, authorizing a new two-story 7,272 sq ft museum building, a future 336 sq ft maker space, demolition of an existing single-story building, and related site improvements. The project description notes plaza entry upgrades, enhanced ADA-accessible parking, and landscaping; the project is listed as exempt from CEQA.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 2, 2026

Council approves major pension and housing actions

Council adopted a $26 million pension strategy to support budget stability and long-term cost avoidance, and advanced several housing, water, election, and land-use actions.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 28, 2026

Planning Commission approves hotel and CIP reviews

The Planning Commission approved permits for a new 70-room Stonehouse Hotel project and found six new Fiscal Year 2026-2027 capital improvement projects consistent with the General Plan 2050.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 28, 2026

Zoning Administrator meeting summary

Approved a 6-foot ornamental fence for a new playground at the Sierra School (3273 Airway Drive); approved a minor conditional use permit and design review for outdoor storage with extended hours and new fencing at 2728 Giffen Avenue and associated parcels; continued a wireless telecommunications facility design review at 2323 Montgomery Drive to June 25, 2026. Draft minutes from May 14, 2026 were also approved.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 14, 2026

Zoning Administrator approves fence, medical office, and veterinary hospital entitlements

At the May 14, 2026 Zoning Administrator meeting (City Hall Council Chamber), members approved minutes from April 23, 2026 and granted: (1) a Minor Design Review for a 6-foot beta prism fence at 1750 Northpoint Parkway; (2) a Minor Conditional Use Permit for a doctor office (Bridges Pregnancy Clinic and Care Center) at 2447 Summerfield Road; and (3) a Minor Conditional Use Permit and Minor Design Review for a veterinary hospital with fencing and site improvements at 1111 Petaluma Hill Road and 564 Barham Avenue. The meeting opened at 10:30 a.m. and was adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 12, 2026

Council adopts wildfire buffer ordinance introduction, approves Spring Lake Village expansion EIR and entitlements, and receives AB 2561 vacancy report

On May 12, 2026 the Santa Rosa City Council introduced a Wildland-Urban Interface Code amendment, certified the Final EIR and approved entitlements for the Spring Lake Village East Grove senior living project, pre-zoned 1977 Marsh Road (RR-20), adopted Brown Act-related policies, approved consent contract amendments, extended the local homeless emergency proclamation, and received the annual vacancies/recruitment report required by AB 2561.

3 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 6, 2026

Council budget and capital program review

The City Council held an informational study session to review the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 Operations and Maintenance Budget and the Capital Improvement Program; no formal action or votes were taken.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 5, 2026

Council reviews FY 2026-27 budget in study session; approves consent purchases and homeless shelter funding

On May 5, 2026 the Santa Rosa City Council held a study session on the proposed FY 2026-27 Operations & Maintenance and CIP budgets (no action required) and continued remaining budget presentations to May 6. The Council approved Consent Items 13.1–13.5 including multiple purchase orders for fire protective equipment and parking services, and adopted a resolution to modify funding for the Samuel L. Jones Hall homeless shelter.

3 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 23, 2026

Zoning Administrator approves permit for two mobile food vending units at 1410 Sebastopol Road

On April 23, 2026 the City of Santa Rosa Zoning Administrator (McKay) met at City Hall Council Chamber. The Zoning Administrator approved Resolution No. ZA-RES-2026-016 (PLN26-0090) granting a Minor Conditional Use Permit to allow two mobile food vending facilities at 1410 Sebastopol Road (APN: 125-141-025) with operating hours set Monday–Thursday 6:00 AM–11:00 PM, Friday–Saturday 6:00 AM–1:00 AM, and Sunday 6:00 AM–12:00 AM. The April 9, 2026 draft minutes were approved. There were no public comments. The meeting was called to order at 10:30 AM and adjourned at 10:38 AM.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 21, 2026

Public safety update and massage enforcement

The subcommittee received an update on efforts to educate and enforce the city’s massage ordinance, along with routine police and fire department updates. It also approved the February 3, 2026 meeting minutes.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 21, 2026

Santa Rosa City Council (April 21, 2026) — Consent approvals; regional water budget and HUD Action Plan adopted

Council held closed and study sessions on labor and pension matters, approved multiple consent items (infrastructure contracts, policy updates, transit safety plan), adopted the preliminary FY2026-27 Regional Water Reuse budget and authorized submission of the FY2026/27 HUD Action Plan.

3 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 13, 2026

Economic Development Subcommittee meeting summary

Committee received presentations and updates on the Santa Rosa Tourism Business Improvement Area, Visit Santa Rosa welcome center initiatives, the Economic Development Implementation Plan, the 2026 Q1 economic development quarterly report, and the Asawa panel project; no action items were taken.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 9, 2026

Planning Commission recommends pre‑zoning of 1977 Marsh Road to RR-20

At its April 9, 2026 meeting the City of Santa Rosa Planning Commission (six commissioners present) approved the March 26, 2026 minutes and adopted Resolution No. PC-RES-2026-015 recommending the City Council prezone 1977 Marsh Road (APN 036-035-011) to Rural Residential (RR-20) to allow future annexation, sewer connection, and potential accessory dwelling unit. No public comments were received. Meeting adjourned at 4:42 p.m.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 9, 2026

Santa Rosa Zoning Administrator approves home-occupation massage permit and small recycling collection facility

Zoning Administrator McKay approved two Minor Conditional Use Permits (both CEQA-exempt) on April 9, 2026: a home-occupation massage therapy business at 3006 Aurora Court (PLN25-0442) and a small recycling collection facility at 1400 Farmers Lane (PLN25-0528). Both approvals were adopted as amended following public comment.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 7, 2026

City Council adopts multiple consent items; introduces Conditional Use Permit streamlining ordinance; receives homelessness report and approves police military equipment report

At the April 7, 2026 City Council meeting the Council adopted Consent Items 13.1–13.13 (including contract amendments and equipment purchases), accepted a $1.25 million Prohousing grant, introduced an ordinance and adopted a fee resolution to streamline the Conditional Use Permit process, received the Year Three report on the Homelessness Solutions Strategic Plan (2025), and approved the Police Department Annual Military Equipment Report and retention of the military equipment ordinance. The Council also conducted a closed session on one potential employment-related litigation matter (received and filed).

6 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Mar 26, 2026

Zoning Administrator approves minor conditional use permit for 8‑ft fence at 2451 Slater St; home‑occupation massage permit continued to April 9, 2026

On March 26, 2026 at City Hall Council Chamber, Zoning Administrator Conor McKay approved Resolution No. ZA-RES-2026-013 authorizing a minor conditional use permit for an 8‑foot‑tall fence (6‑ft solid + 2‑ft horizontal slats) at 2451 Slater Street (File PLN25-0630). A home‑occupation minor conditional use permit application for a massage therapy business at 3006 Aurora Court (File PLN25-0442) was continued to the April 9, 2026 meeting at the applicant’s request for a public hearing. Draft minutes from March 12, 2026 were approved.

2 min readMunicipal coverage