Planning Commission approves Stonehouse hotel | Economic Development | Santa Rosa | The Common News

Summary

Planning Commission approves Stonehouse hotel

Santa RosaMay 28, 20262 min read

At a glance

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The commission approved permits for a new 70-room Stonehouse Hotel (including conversion of the existing Stonehouse building to a five-room boutique hotel) and found six new Fiscal Year 2026–27 Capital Improvement Program projects consistent with the City General Plan.

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Economic Development Hillside Development Major Hillside Development

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Planning Commission

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What this means

Commissioners voted to allow construction of a new 70-room hotel and related site work, and to convert the existing Stonehouse building into a five-room boutique hotel. A Major Conditional Use Permit (permission for a specific land use that needs special review) and a Hillside Development Permit (approval for construction on hillside terrain) were approved, and staff indicated the project is exempt from state environmental review. The commission also confirmed that six new capital projects for 2026–27 are consistent with the city’s long-range plan, which means those projects can proceed through the city’s planning and delivery process.

Key decisions

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Adopted Resolution PC-RES-2026-016 approving a Major Conditional Use Permit for the new 70-room Stonehouse Hotel at 3331 and 3555 Highway 12 (PRJ25-001/CUP25-001); vote: Yes 3, No 2, Absent 2.
Adopted Resolution PC-RES-2026-017 approving a Hillside Development Permit for the new 70-room hotel and renovation of the existing Stonehouse building into a five-room boutique hotel (PRJ25-001/HDP25-001); vote: Yes 4, No 1, Absent 2.
Adopted Resolution PC-RES-2026-018 finding that six new Fiscal Year 2026–2027 Capital Improvement Program projects are consistent with the City of Santa Rosa General Plan 2050; vote: Yes 5, Absent 2.
Approved minutes of the April 9, 2026 Planning Commission meeting as submitted.

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Meeting information

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Planning Commission

May 28, 2026, 12:00 AMCity Hall, Council Chamber, 100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, CAscheduled

Agenda

4:30 P.M. - REGULAR SESSION MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING BY ATTENDING IN-PERSON FROM THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS 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/81986973863, OR BY DIALING 877-853-5257 AND ENTERING WEBINAR ID: 819 8697 3863; 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 planningcommission@srcity.org by 5:00 pm the Wednesday before the Planning Commission Meeting. Any written correspondence will be included in the agenda before the meeting begins. IN THE EVENT A BOARD MEMBER PARTICIPATES REMOTELY BASED ON JUST CAUSE UNDER THE BROWN ACT, THE CITY WILL 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 THE BROWN ACT (Gov. Code § 54953.8)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Draft Minutes - April 9, 2026.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
COMMISSION BUSINESS
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
COMMISSIONER REPORTS
OTHER (i.e. VICE CHAIR ELECTION, NEW MEMBER INTRODUCTIONS)
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION OR RECUSAL
PRESENTATIONS
CONSENT ITEMS
REPORT ITEMS
PUBLIC HEARINGS
PUBLIC HEARING - STONEHOUSE HOTEL BACKGROUND: Major Conditional Use Permit and Major Hillside Development Permit for the construction of a new 70-room hotel with associated site improvements. CEQA Exempt Project. RECOMMENDATION: The Planning and Economic Development Department recommends that the Planning Commission, by two resolutions, approve a Major Conditional Use Permit and Hillside Development Permit to allow the construction of a new 70-room hotel building, renovation and conversion of the existing Stonehouse building into a five-room boutique hotel, and associated outdoor pool, garden, courtyard spaces, parking, landscaping, and related site improvements, located at 3331 and 3555 Highway 12. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget. PRESENTED BY: Suzanne Hartman, City Planner
PUBLIC HEARING - FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM CONSISTENCY WITH THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA GENERAL PLAN 2050 BACKGROUND: Government Code Section 65401 requires that the Planning Commission review public projects associated with the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) each year for consistency with the General Plan. There are 6 new projects to be evaluated as part of the 2026-2027 CIP. RECOMMENDATION: The Planning and Economic Development Department recommends that the Planning Commission, by resolution, find that the six new projects included in the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Capital Improvement Program are consistent with the City of Santa Rosa General Plan 2050 PRESENTED BY: Sachnoor Bisla, City Planner.
ADJOURNMENT
*Ex parte communication disclosure required.
In compliance with Zoning Code Section 20-62, the decision of the Planning Commission 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 against individuals (including member(s) of a legislative body) with disabilities in its employment, services, benefits, facilities, programs, or activities. Requests for accommodations, auxiliary aids, or services necessary to participate in a City program, service, or activity, including printed information in alternate formats, are available by contacting the Board Secretary at (707) 543-4646 (TTY Relay at 711) or mbrown@srcity.org. The e-mail subject line should read “ADA Accommodation Request” or “Language Assistance” and the email should include your name, address, telephone number, and a description of the request. If the request is received at least seven (7) business days prior to the board meeting, the copy shall be provided no later than two (2) business days prior to the board meeting. Meeting information can also be accessed via the internet at http://srcity.org.
Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Planning Commission 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.
PUBLIC HEARING - STONEHOUSE HOTEL BACKGROUND: Major Conditional Use Permit and Major Hillside Development Permit for the construction of a new 70-room hotel with associated site improvements. CEQA Exempt Project. RECOMMENDATION: The Planning and Economic Development Department recommends that the Planning Commission, by two resolutions, approve a Major Conditional Use Permit and Hillside Development Permit to allow the construction of a new 70-room hotel building, renovation and conversion of the existing Stonehouse building into a five-room boutique hotel, and associated outdoor pool, garden, courtyard spaces, parking, landscaping, and related site improvements, located at 3331 and 3555 Highway 12. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget. PRESENTED BY: Suzanne Hartman, City Planner

Documents from this meeting

Minuteshttps://legistar.granicus.com/santarosa/meetings/2026/5/5289_M_Planning_Commission_26-05-28_Regular_Meeting_Minutes.pdf
Agendahttps://legistar.granicus.com/santarosa/meetings/2026/5/5289_A_Planning_Commission_26-05-28_Regular_Meeting_Agenda_and_Summary_Report.pdf

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