 For the past two decades Sonoma County has been growing at a rapid pace, welcoming vast numbers of new residents to the area. Many of these transplants have moved to the area in an effort to escape the crowded city life of the larger Bay Area cities to the south such as San Francisco and San Jose.
This rapid growth has provided a significant challenge to the city and to the preservation of its unique charm. Managing this growth has become one of the prominent issues facing the city. While many feared that too much growth would spoil the city's small town character, others felt that too little growth would cause more and more city residents to leave Cotati to shop at newly constructed shopping centers in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park and Petaluma. They feared that this would cause the city's share of the sales tax revenue to wither, leaving the city unable to provide adequate city services.
Throughout the 90's, Cotati has faced this challenge by effectively encouraging growth within strict limitations. In 1990 the citizens of Cotati overwhelmingly voted to curtail the growth of the city by forbidding any annexation of land beyond a fixed urban boundary line. This highly popular self-imposed limit on annexation turned the focus on development inwards. The city has worked aggressively to enhance the downtown area and to encourage business development. In the 80's the city remodeled the two-block downtown stretch of Old Redwood Highway. In 1991 the City Council voted to enact a Downtown Plan which kicked-off a series of enhancements to the city's downtown including new bus shelters, sidewalks and city benches. During this period, La Plaza Park was remodeled extensively with a new bandstand and a new playground structure. The City also has worked towards significant developments outside the downtown including a successful industrial section and on a plan for mixed-use residential/commercial development on E. Cotati Avenue by the railroad tracks.
Cotati today is comprised of approximately 6700 residents, over four times the population at the time of its incorporation in 1963. Both new and long-time Cotati businesses have made significant efforts to maintain and reinforce the city's distinct way of life. Oliver's Market provides locals with a fine selection of natural produce and gourmet food. Zone Music and Backdoor Disc & Tape have made Cotati a central music resource throughout Sonoma County.
And when the sun sets the music doesn't stop. Cotati offers one of the county's most vibrant nightlife scenes. Numerous nightspots offer live entertainment including the recently reopened Inn of the Beginning. Courtesy of the City of Cotati
HomeRoute's Relocate-America has named GINGER HOPP as "EXCLUSIVE REALTOR" to represent the following communities in SONOMA COUNTY & MARIN COUNTY...
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