Planning Commission OK's Rohnert Park Drive-In Movie Theater on Empty Lot

Rohnert Park’s Planning Commission Thursday night OK’d plans to turn a vacant lot into a temporary drive-in movie theater on Padre Parkway and City Center Drive on Friday nights this summer.

Jeff Schach, the owner of , has raised $6,000 from area businesses, paid the city $1,000 for the permit and secured use of a nearly on-acre hunk of private land to show four movies from July 8 through Sept. 30.

The free outdoor theater will follow the . Organizers said the movies will be projected on a large inflatable screen, with space for about 300 movie goers, and about 50 cars. People would be able to bring blankets or chairs to sit on; and hay bales will separate the outside seating area from the drive-in area that people would also be able to sit on.

The movies would begin at about 8:30 p.m. and end around 10 p.m. 

"We're not the first city in Sonoma County to do this," Schach told commissioners last night. "Novato, Petaluma and Windsor all have outdoor movie nights — it has the potential to bring a greater sense of community here and to further the idea of establishing a downtown, especially after the Friday Night Farmers Market."

Two letters of concern drafted by Rohnert Park residents raised issues about traffic on surrounding streets, the impact of the noise from the movie on area residences and cleanup after the event.

"We're really concerned about the amount of trash and the use of bathrooms," said Wallace Trujillo, president of CentreVille Homes Association, a live-work loft development surrounding the vacant lot. "We're not really concerned about the noise; we already get more exuberant noise from the skating rink at night."

"We’re pretty supportive of Mr. Schach’s endeavor," Trujillo said.

Planning commissioners last night called the potential noise impact minor — lasting just two hours on Friday nights during the summer months. FM transmitters will also be available to transmit the sound from the film so that patrons in their cars can tune it in on the FM radios in their cars, further reducing noise. 

Commissioners echoed the concern about traffic congestion on surrounding streets and how the flow of vehicles would move from the library parking lot to the adjacent movie theater.

Schach, who said he's taken on the project for free, addressed these concerns, noting that he will have people there directing traffic. 

He added that it's likely that his business, adjacent to the outdoor theater, will most likely benefit from foot traffic around the event.

The outdoor theater will also have portable bathrooms, garbage and recycling bins, and nonprofits or local youth sports groups will be able to sell popcorn, candy and soft drinks.

"I think what you’re doing is great, I support it 100 percent," said Vice Chairperson Susan Adams. "I would like to see it in a different location, like the library parking lot, where the Friday Night Farmers Market is. I'm concerned about parking, traffic and noise ... I just think that location is fraught with problems."  

In the end, the commission OK'd the project unanimously, adding that if the event outgrows the lot, it could potentially move to the library parking lot next year. 

Commissioner Gerard Giudice said he's excited for the project, and that it will help create a vibrant Friday night scene in Rohnert Park.

"In these times, to find little glimmers of economic opportunity and economic development, I think that we need to seize the moment and we need to try to exploit it to its fullest potential," Giudice said. 

"I applaud your ingenuity," Adams told Schach. "We want to see this event succeed." Adams said.

Movies and dates are: July 8: Megamind, July 29: Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2, August 19: Despicable Me, Sept. 30: Rango.