Rohnert Park's Planning Commission approved a five-story hotel and McDonald's fast-food restaurant in the Wilfred-Dowdell Specific Plan. It took a two-hour hearing Thursday night, April 26, for the four-member panel to tally three unanimous 4-0   votes of approval. Commissioner David Armstrong was absent.

RP Planning and Building Manager Marilyn Ponton and Norman Weisbrod, a technical advisor for the planning department, represented the city. The applicants, Oxford Suites Hotel and McDonald's, were backed by a PowerPoint show, displays on easels, samples of exterior building materials and a cadre of architects, company executives and advisors.

The project drew more than the usual attention because it's in the city's northwest corner and closest to the proposed casino and resort hotel planned by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR) and Station Casinos of Las Vegas  

The 4.5-acre parcel has Redwood Drive as its eastern border, Golf Course West Drive (formerly Wilfred Avenue) on the south, Dowdell D rive on the west and Home Depot's access road on the north. Home Depot's road will provide access to the property as well as Golf Course West and Dowdell drives.

Oxford Suites is the third example of these popular smaller hotels. RP already has two "suite hotels" on the east side of Redwood Drive north of RP Expressway.

Most of the discussion April 26 was about the access roads and the fact Oxford Suites will have a dining room, cabana and swimming pool. None of them will be open to the public.

The commission's approval doesn't necessarily have to go to the city council for further OK, for basically it's an "infill" project on city land (the Wilfred-Dowdell Specific Plan. But any city council member can call it up for another look. It's nearness to the proposed casino and resort hotel could be a factor.