Walnut Creek Design Review Commission Meeting

Meeting Date: June 4, 2025

Note on Attendance: The published agenda roster lists Chair Casey Case and Vice Chair Philip Newsom, with Commissioners Velilla, Kilian, and Weingarten. The meeting transcript records the following members participating: Chair Newsom presiding, Vice Chair Weingarten, Commissioner Case, and Commissioner Riley. The summary below reflects participants and actions as captured in the meeting transcript.

The Walnut Creek Design Review Commission (DRC) held a regular meeting on June 4, 2025, to conduct study sessions on two significant development proposals: a new Taco Bell drive-thru at the Rossmoor Shopping Center and a new Toyota dealership on North Broadway. The Commission provided detailed design feedback and recommendations to the Planning Commission for both projects.

Consent Calendar

There were no items on the consent calendar.

Public Comments & Testimony

Taco Bell at Rossmoor (Item 4a) Public comment was overwhelmingly from residents of the single-family neighborhood adjacent to the shopping center. Residents uniformly expressed strong concerns or opposition to the project.

• Steve Shavinsky (1915 Devil View Place): Expressed concerns about increased traffic and safety hazards for elderly drivers, the proposed 2:00 a.m. closing hours, and the design not matching the character of the recently renovated shopping center.
• Karen Bates (1995 Honey Lakes Court): Requested the preservation of two large sycamore trees to screen the building, raised concerns about light pollution, increased crime, trash, and the prominent sign tower being visible from her home.
• Ann Hotanaka (1982 Sydney Court): Questioned the size and illumination of the signage, the store hours, potential exhaust odors, and the overall impact on the neighborhood's quiet ambiance.
• Betina Uno (1984 Sunnan Court): Stated concerns about traffic safety (specifically the single access road for the neighborhood), the negative impact on local small businesses like El Jardin, and the design's aesthetic.
• Terry McDonald: Emphasized the danger of the shopping center exit, citing previous major accidents, supported saving the London plane trees, and opposed the late-night operations.

Toyota Dealership (Item 4b) No members of the public provided comments on this item.

Discussion Items & Study Sessions

4a. Taco Bell Drive-Thru (Application Y24-071)

• Staff (Principal Planner Chip Griffin) presented a proposal for a 1,495 sq. ft. Taco Bell with a dual-lane drive-thru, small indoor/outdoor dining, and the removal of 13 trees, including two protected London plane sycamores. The project requires Design Review, Conditional Use Permits, and Tree Removal Permits. It will proceed to the Planning Commission for final approval.
• Applicant (Chris Cis of Diversified Restaurant Group) described the site constraints, including a utility easement and a Safeway tenant-protected area, which tightly dictated the building placement. They argued the queuing analysis showed it would not exceed capacity and promised mitigations for trash and odors.
• Commissioners discussed the awkward site layout, urged the applicant to prioritize saving the two large street trees by using underutilized parking spaces, and strongly recommended redesigning the building's tower, color palette (specifically the dark black and bright purple), and signage to reduce its visual impact on the neighboring residential area.

4b. Toyota Walnut Creek Dealership (Application Y25-025)

• Staff (Senior Planner Simar Gill) presented a study session for a new 82,592 sq. ft., two-story Toyota dealership on a merged lot. The project, a critical first step in the city's economic development plan, includes a showroom, rooftop parking, and a service center. Final Design Review will be conducted by the Planning Commission.
• Applicant (Stephen Scanlan and Rick Ferrara of Gensler) detailed the unique urban prototype design which consolidates all operations onto a tight urban infill site. They explained efforts to activate the Pine Street frontage (under the Makers Row overlay) with a service lounge and balcony, screening utilities, and using premium materials to soften the auto-centric use.
• Commissioners praised the creative urban infill solution. Discussion focused on ensuring pedestrian activation on Pine Street, requiring variety and texture in the building materials, recommending dark-sky compliant roof lighting, and selecting non-columnar, low-water tree species for the streetscape.

Key Outcomes

Taco Bell at Rossmoor (Item 4a):

• The Commission gave a positive recommendation to the Planning Commission for the project's Design Review and Use Permits, contingent upon substantial design changes.
• The Commission explicitly withheld support for the removal of the two London plane sycamore trees.
• Specific recommendations to the applicant included:
  • Redesign the site layout to save the sycamores, even if it requires reducing parking.
  • Reconsider the tower, color scheme, and signage to be more compatible with the residential neighborhood.
  • Prioritize intuitive and safe traffic circulation.

Toyota Dealership (Item 4b):

• The Commission gave a unanimous positive recommendation to the Planning Commission for the Design Review.
• Specific recommendations and conditions for the applicant to finalize with staff included:
  • Ensure the stone veneer material provides significant contrast and visual interest to break up the massing.
  • Refine the roof lighting to be dark-sky compliant (downcast, shielded, minimal height).
  • Re-evaluate the proposed tree species to be lower-water and non-columnar to enhance the pedestrian experience.
  • Finalize detailed plans for fencing, lighting, and utility screening.

Commission Member Reports & Adjournment

• Staff announced upcoming items for the June 18, 2025 meeting.
• The meeting was adjourned.