Summary

Elm Tree Station design approved

Santa RosaNov 7, 20252 min read

At a glance

Quick context to catch up fast.

The board approved design review for the Elm Tree Station project at 874 N. Wright Rd., after hearing public opposition and a 4-1 vote with one recusal.

Projects mentioned

Browse all related coverage for the main local project pages tied to this summary.

Economic Development

Committees mentioned

Open the committee coverage hubs tied to this summary.

Design Review and Preservation Board

Topics discussed

TransportationCommerceHousing

View official document

Was this summary helpful?

Your feedback helps us prioritize what to improve next.

What this means

The board approved the look and site layout for a proposed gas station project at 874 N. Wright Rd. The plan includes six gas pumps, four electric charging stations, retail space, one apartment, and small park-like features such as benches, a picnic area, and a bike path connection. Several members of the public spoke against the project before the board voted to adopt the resolution.

Key decisions

Follow the major takeaways from this briefing.

Approved the August 21, 2025 draft minutes as submitted.
Board Member Ennis recused herself from item 9.1 and left the meeting.
Approved design review for the Elm Tree Station project at 874 N. Wright Rd. by resolution, with a 4-1 vote and one recusal.

Timeline & follow-ups

Action items flagged by the community.

No follow-ups have been shared yet. Add one in the community board below.

Meeting information

Details and records from this meeting.

Design Review and Preservation Board

Nov 7, 2025, 12:30 AMCity Hall, Council Chamber 100 Santa Rosa Avenue Santa Rosa, CA 95404completed

Agenda

4:30 P.M. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING BY ATTENDING IN-PERSON FROM THE COUNCIL CHAMBER LOCATED AT 100 SANTA ROSA AVENUE, SANTA ROSA. THE PUBLIC CAN ALSO VIEW OR LISTEN TO THE MEETING LIVE AT: 1. HTTPS://SANTA-ROSA.LEGISTAR.COM/CALENDAR. CLICK ON THE "IN PROGRESS" LINK TO VIEW; 2. VIA ZOOM BY VISITING, HTTPS://SRCITY-ORG.ZOOM.US/J/89374460979 , OR BY DIALING 877-853-5257 AND ENTERING WEBINAR ID: 893 7446 0979 3. COMCAST CHANNEL 28, AT&T U-VERSE CHANNEL 99; AND 4. VIA YOUTUBE AT HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/CITYOFSANTAROSA Public Comment may be made live, in-person, during the meeting in the Council Chamber or submitted in advance via email at DRPB@srcity.org by 5:00 p.m. the Wednesday before the Design Review and Preservation Board Meeting. Any written correspondence may be included in the agenda before the meeting begins. IN THE EVENT A BOARD MEMBER PARTICIPATES REMOTELY BASED ON JUST CAUSE OR EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES PURSUANT TO AB 2449, THE BOARD WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH THE ZOOM LINK OR DIAL-IN NUMBER ABOVE.
4:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER AB 2449 (IF NEEDED)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Draft Minutes - August 21, 2025.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
BOARD BUSINESS
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
OTHER (i.e. VICE CHAIR ELECTION, NEW MEMBER INTRODUCTION)
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION BY BOARD MEMBERS
CONSENT ITEM(S)
SCHEDULED ITEM(S)
PUBLIC HEARING - ELM TREE STATION - DESIGN REVIEW - 874 N WRIGHT RD - DR21-069 BACKGROUND: Design Review of a gas station with six gas pumps and four electric charging stations, and a 3,448-square-foot general retail space with an 806-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment above. The proposed Project also includes the construction of an additional 432-square-foot general retail use and park-like amenities, including patio/trellis area, benches and picnic area, and a bike path that would traverse the eastern and southern boundaries of the project site from the Joe Rodota Trail to North Wright Road. The DRPB will be reviewing the Project's architecture and site layout. The City Council approved the Conditional Use Permit for the gas station and multifamily dwelling on August 19th, 2025. A Mitigated Negative Declaration was adopted on October 24, 2013. An Addendum to the Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepared and adopted by City Council on August 19th, 2025. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Planning and Economic Development Department that the Design Review and Preservation Board, by resolution, approve Design Review for the Elm Tree Station Project, which includes a gas station, two general retail land uses across two buildings, one apartment unit and a small park, for the property located at 874 N. Wright Road Presented By: Conor McKay, Senior Planner.
ADJOURNMENT
*Ex parte communication disclosure required.
In compliance with Zoning Code Section 20-62, the decision of the Design Review and Preservation Board is final unless an appeal is filed on a City Appeal Form (https://srcity.org/DocumentCenter/Index/173) and associated fees, as noted on the City’s Fee Schedule (https://srcity.org/DocumentCenter/View/16129/Planning--Economic-Development-Department-Fee-Schedule?bidId= ), are paid within 10 calendar days of the action. The time limit will extend to the following business day where the last day falls on a day that the City is not open for business.
The City of Santa Rosa does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admissions or access to, or treatment of or employment in, its programs or activities. Disability-related aids or services, including printed information in alternate formats, to enable persons with disabilities to participate in public meetings are available by calling the Recording Secretary at (707) 543-3084 (TTY Relay at 711). Requests should be submitted as far in advance as possible, but no later than two business days before the scheduled meeting.
Any writings or documents provided to the Design Review and Preservation Board prior to this meeting regarding any item on this agenda are available for public review at https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx or in person at the Planning and Economic Development Department, Room 3, City Hall, 100 Santa Rosa Ave, during normal business hours.
Approved on: December 18, 2026 /s/ Jack Reynolds, Recording Secretary

Documents from this meeting

Recent documents

Fresh records from this municipality.

Civic leadership

Know who to contact about the decisions that matter.

Back home

Summary

Elm Tree Station design approved

Santa RosaNov 7, 20252 min read

At a glance

Quick context to catch up fast.

The board approved design review for the Elm Tree Station project at 874 N. Wright Rd., after hearing public opposition and a 4-1 vote with one recusal.

Projects mentioned

Browse all related coverage for the main local project pages tied to this summary.

Economic Development

Committees mentioned

Open the committee coverage hubs tied to this summary.

Design Review and Preservation Board

Topics discussed

TransportationCommerceHousing

View official document

Was this summary helpful?

Your feedback helps us prioritize what to improve next.

What this means

Key decisions

Follow the major takeaways from this briefing.

Approved the August 21, 2025 draft minutes as submitted.
Board Member Ennis recused herself from item 9.1 and left the meeting.
Approved design review for the Elm Tree Station project at 874 N. Wright Rd. by resolution, with a 4-1 vote and one recusal.

Timeline & follow-ups

Action items flagged by the community.

No follow-ups have been shared yet. Add one in the community board below.

Meeting information

Details and records from this meeting.

Design Review and Preservation Board

Nov 7, 2025, 12:30 AMCity Hall, Council Chamber 100 Santa Rosa Avenue Santa Rosa, CA 95404completed

Agenda

4:30 P.M. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING BY ATTENDING IN-PERSON FROM THE COUNCIL CHAMBER LOCATED AT 100 SANTA ROSA AVENUE, SANTA ROSA. THE PUBLIC CAN ALSO VIEW OR LISTEN TO THE MEETING LIVE AT: 1. HTTPS://SANTA-ROSA.LEGISTAR.COM/CALENDAR. CLICK ON THE "IN PROGRESS" LINK TO VIEW; 2. VIA ZOOM BY VISITING, HTTPS://SRCITY-ORG.ZOOM.US/J/89374460979 , OR BY DIALING 877-853-5257 AND ENTERING WEBINAR ID: 893 7446 0979 3. COMCAST CHANNEL 28, AT&T U-VERSE CHANNEL 99; AND 4. VIA YOUTUBE AT HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/CITYOFSANTAROSA Public Comment may be made live, in-person, during the meeting in the Council Chamber or submitted in advance via email at DRPB@srcity.org by 5:00 p.m. the Wednesday before the Design Review and Preservation Board Meeting. Any written correspondence may be included in the agenda before the meeting begins. IN THE EVENT A BOARD MEMBER PARTICIPATES REMOTELY BASED ON JUST CAUSE OR EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES PURSUANT TO AB 2449, THE BOARD WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH THE ZOOM LINK OR DIAL-IN NUMBER ABOVE.
4:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER AB 2449 (IF NEEDED)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Draft Minutes - August 21, 2025.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
BOARD BUSINESS
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
OTHER (i.e. VICE CHAIR ELECTION, NEW MEMBER INTRODUCTION)
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION BY BOARD MEMBERS
CONSENT ITEM(S)
SCHEDULED ITEM(S)
PUBLIC HEARING - ELM TREE STATION - DESIGN REVIEW - 874 N WRIGHT RD - DR21-069 BACKGROUND: Design Review of a gas station with six gas pumps and four electric charging stations, and a 3,448-square-foot general retail space with an 806-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment above. The proposed Project also includes the construction of an additional 432-square-foot general retail use and park-like amenities, including patio/trellis area, benches and picnic area, and a bike path that would traverse the eastern and southern boundaries of the project site from the Joe Rodota Trail to North Wright Road. The DRPB will be reviewing the Project's architecture and site layout. The City Council approved the Conditional Use Permit for the gas station and multifamily dwelling on August 19th, 2025. A Mitigated Negative Declaration was adopted on October 24, 2013. An Addendum to the Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepared and adopted by City Council on August 19th, 2025. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Planning and Economic Development Department that the Design Review and Preservation Board, by resolution, approve Design Review for the Elm Tree Station Project, which includes a gas station, two general retail land uses across two buildings, one apartment unit and a small park, for the property located at 874 N. Wright Road Presented By: Conor McKay, Senior Planner.
ADJOURNMENT
*Ex parte communication disclosure required.
In compliance with Zoning Code Section 20-62, the decision of the Design Review and Preservation Board is final unless an appeal is filed on a City Appeal Form (https://srcity.org/DocumentCenter/Index/173) and associated fees, as noted on the City’s Fee Schedule (https://srcity.org/DocumentCenter/View/16129/Planning--Economic-Development-Department-Fee-Schedule?bidId= ), are paid within 10 calendar days of the action. The time limit will extend to the following business day where the last day falls on a day that the City is not open for business.
The City of Santa Rosa does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admissions or access to, or treatment of or employment in, its programs or activities. Disability-related aids or services, including printed information in alternate formats, to enable persons with disabilities to participate in public meetings are available by calling the Recording Secretary at (707) 543-3084 (TTY Relay at 711). Requests should be submitted as far in advance as possible, but no later than two business days before the scheduled meeting.
Any writings or documents provided to the Design Review and Preservation Board prior to this meeting regarding any item on this agenda are available for public review at https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx or in person at the Planning and Economic Development Department, Room 3, City Hall, 100 Santa Rosa Ave, during normal business hours.
Approved on: December 18, 2026 /s/ Jack Reynolds, Recording Secretary