OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Walnut Creek Planning Commission Approves Temporary MRI Trailer for UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital - April 10, 2025

City Council — Thursday, April 10, 2025
BodyWalnut Creek, California
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, April 10, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:06

Let me know.

0:12

Good evening.

0:13

Welcome to the April 10th regular meeting of the Planning Commission.

0:19

Welcome to you all.

0:20

The um should take the roll call.

0:25

Thank you, Chair.

0:26

Commissioner Strongman.

0:28

Here.

0:28

Commissioner Quok.

0:29

Here.

0:30

Commissioner Ward.

0:31

Here.

0:32

Commissioner KW.

0:33

Here.

0:33

Vice Chair Needing.

0:35

Here.

0:36

Chair Anderson.

0:37

Here.

0:38

We have a quorum.

0:39

Thank you much.

0:40

Do we have a consent calendar?

0:43

We do not.

0:44

Okay.

0:45

And I won't ask if anyone would like to remove anything from it.

0:50

The next item is item three on the agenda is public communications.

0:56

There are two opportunities to speak.

1:01

One is at the when a hearing comes up.

1:03

You can speak on that matter.

1:05

If you have anything to discuss with the Planning Commission that is within our jurisdiction, but not on the agenda tonight.

1:19

If you want to speak in either time, there's bigger cards in the back that you can fill out and bring those with you when you come to the microphone.

1:31

All right.

1:32

Are there any public comments?

1:35

Seeing none.

1:37

Move on to disclosure of ex parte communications.

1:41

Anybody?

1:43

One.

1:44

No.

1:46

Moving right along to the public hearing.

1:51

Staff to present the staff report on the UCSF Benny Off Children's Hospital temporary MRI trailer application.

2:02

Good evening, Planning Commissioners.

2:04

Jessica Gonzalez, senior planner, and I will be presenting the special use permit Y25006.

2:11

And before we get started, just some housekeeping, really two points of clarification and revisions to the draft resolution.

2:19

The documents refer to the facility as the UCSF Bennyoff Children's Hospital.

2:24

However, the actual full name of the facility is the Wana Creek Pediatric Outpatient Center of UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.

2:33

Additionally, staff recommends uh SUP time frame of 18 months.

2:39

However, the expiration date noted in draft condition five reflects 30 months.

2:45

That should be corrected to October 2026 instead of October 2027.

2:50

Should the Planning Commission approve those two revisions should be made.

2:58

Moving into the project location.

3:01

Project is located at 2401 Shade Linds Drive.

3:04

It is surrounded by other like medical and research and development facilities.

3:10

And the site itself is zoned PD 1960 under the uh business park general plan designation.

3:22

Getting into the application, the PD for the property refers to the business park zoning district, which uh technically does prohibit um vehicle-based uses.

3:34

However, the city has historically issued special use permits or SUPs to allow uh temporary uses such as vehicle storage, MRI trailers, and other like uses on a temporary basis.

3:47

Um with that, the applicant is requesting a temporary SUP to allow an MRI trailer to operate within the site parking lot while their uh interior MRI suite is being renovated.

4:05

Some details on the proposal.

4:07

Um as I mentioned, the um proposal is to utilize the MRI trailer uh within the parking lot of the facility uh with a request of 12 months.

4:17

However, staff is recommending 18 months just to ensure if there's any construction delays that uh services will be available.

4:25

Um the trailer would occupy approximately 28 parking spaces within the facility, and oper um hours of operation would pretty much reflect that of the uh medical facility Monday through Friday, 8 to 4.

4:43

So here is a site plan on the screen, uh really just showing the entire uh site.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████████36%
Zoning and Planning███████████████████████████27%
Technology and Innovation█████████████13%
Public Safety████████████12%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Personnel Matters███3%
Community Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Walnut Creek Planning Commission Meeting – April 10, 2025

The Planning Commission met on April 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at 1666 North Main Street, Walnut Creek. The primary item was a public hearing on a Special Use Permit (SUP) for a temporary MRI trailer at the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. The Commission also heard procedural announcements and a farewell to departing Commissioner Melissa Ward.

Discussion Items

  • UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Temporary MRI Trailer (SUP Y25-006): The applicant, represented by Michael Valero (construction project manager) and Liz Epstein (special projects), requested a Special Use Permit to place a temporary MRI trailer in the parking lot at 2401 Shadelands Drive while the interior MRI suite is renovated. The trailer would occupy approximately 28 parking spaces, with hours of operation Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Staff senior planner Jessica Gonzalez presented the proposal, recommending an 18-month approval (instead of the requested 12 months) to accommodate potential construction delays. Two barrier options were presented: chain-link fencing with a vinyl wrap (showing a colorful butterfly/children’s graphic) or white water-filled K-rails. The applicant preferred the chain-link fence with the graphic wrap, and several Commissioners expressed support for the bright, child-friendly design. Safety concerns were raised regarding vehicle impact; the applicant offered to add K-rails behind the fence for extra protection. Commissioner Strongman also suggested verifying turning radii for delivery vehicles to avoid hitting the fence. The Commission discussed and supported the project.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to Approve: Commissioner Strongman moved to adopt the draft resolution with two corrections: (1) correct the facility name to “Walnut Creek Pediatric Outpatient Center of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital,” and (2) change the SUP expiration date to October 2026 (18 months from approval). The motion also included deleting Condition 4, which required neutral paint on the trailer, to allow the proposed vinyl wrap. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Andersson. Voting 6-0 in favor (Commissioners Strongman, Kwok, Ward, Clopp, Nieting, Andersson; Commissioner Reiser absent). The Special Use Permit was approved.
  • Farewell to Commissioner Melissa Ward: Chair Strongman acknowledged Commissioner Ward’s service (over 11 years on commissions, including Transportation and Planning). Commissioners shared personal remarks, and Ward gave a farewell speech thanking staff, the City Council, and fellow commissioners. She is moving to Alameda.
  • Procedural Announcements: Chair Strongman outlined new practices for future meetings, including allowing commissioner questions of public speakers and ensuring discussion after motions. He also noted upcoming vacancies and the need for a quorum (4 of 5 members) at future meetings.
  • Upcoming Meeting: The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 24, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Let me know. Good evening. Welcome to the April 10th regular meeting of the Planning Commission. Welcome to you all. The um should take the roll call. Thank you, Chair. Commissioner Strongman. Here. Commissioner Quok. Here. Commissioner Ward. Here. Commissioner KW. Here. Vice Chair Needing. Here. Chair Anderson. Here. We have a quorum. Thank you much. Do we have a consent calendar? We do not. Okay. And I won't ask if anyone would like to remove anything from it. The next item is item three on the agenda is public communications. There are two opportunities to speak. One is at the when a hearing comes up. You can speak on that matter. If you have anything to discuss with the Planning Commission that is within our jurisdiction, but not on the agenda tonight. If you want to speak in either time, there's bigger cards in the back that you can fill out and bring those with you when you come to the microphone. All right. Are there any public comments? Seeing none. Move on to disclosure of ex parte communications. Anybody? One. No. Moving right along to the public hearing. Staff to present the staff report on the UCSF Benny Off Children's Hospital temporary MRI trailer application. Good evening, Planning Commissioners. Jessica Gonzalez, senior planner, and I will be presenting the special use permit Y25006. And before we get started, just some housekeeping, really two points of clarification and revisions to the draft resolution. The documents refer to the facility as the UCSF Bennyoff Children's Hospital. However, the actual full name of the facility is the Wana Creek Pediatric Outpatient Center of UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. Additionally, staff recommends uh SUP time frame of 18 months. However, the expiration date noted in draft condition five reflects 30 months. That should be corrected to October 2026 instead of October 2027. Should the Planning Commission approve those two revisions should be made. Moving into the project location. Project is located at 2401 Shade Linds Drive.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com