Drop-In Meetings To Hear Rohnert Park Downtown Plans: Watch

ROHNERT PARK-COTATI, CA — Rohnert Park residents interested in shaping the city’s long-anticipated downtown development are invited to attend one of three public meetings this week, as city officials and the developer of proposed blueprints gather residents' opinions on early design concepts for the project.

The meetings come months after the Nov. 18 meeting, where the Rohnert Park City Council approved a concept design and preliminary terms for redeveloping the 30-acre former State Farm campus into a mixed-use downtown.

Plans reflect an attempt to increase revenue by creating a downtown hub for shopping and entertainment, and draw Rohnert Park closer to wine country tourism.

The proposal by CenterCal Properties envisions creating a downtown for Rohnert Park, a city planned more than six decades ago without a traditional town center.

The plan includes 350 to 400 housing units, up to 160,000 square feet of retail space — including a potential grocery store — and a 100- to 160-room upscale hotel arranged around a central public plaza, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and finish in 2029.

Two drop-in meetings will be held on Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Northern California Public Media and from 4 to 7 p.m. at Old Caz Beer. A third meeting is scheduled for Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Waterhawk Lake Club.

City staff said the sessions are designed to allow residents to see early concepts and weigh in on design elements, desired businesses, and other priorities before plans are finalized.

The project could be rental or for-sale units, but the development agreement requires that 25 percent be affordable to households earning no more than 80 percent of area median income.

Residents can also send comments to downtownrp@rpcity.org.