Walnut Creek Zoning Administrator Special Meeting - June 11, 2025
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Walnut Creek Zoning Administrator Special Meeting - June 11, 2025
The Walnut Creek Zoning Administrator held a special meeting on June 11, 2025, at 4:00 PM in the Second Floor Conference Room at City Hall, 1666 N. Main Street. The meeting focused on two public hearings regarding requests for Minor Use Permits (MUPs) to allow six-foot-tall fences in locations where the permitted height is three feet. The Zoning Administrator considered staff recommendations, public comments, and evidence presented for each project.
Opening & Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 PM. The Zoning Administrator presided over the meeting.
Public Communications
No members of the public came forward to speak on non-agenda items. The Zoning Administrator noted no comments were received.
Public Hearings - Item 3a: Akram Residence, 135 Las Juntas Way (MUP Y24-093)
Staff presented a request for a Minor Use Permit to allow a six-foot-tall solid redwood fence within the street side yard setback on Patina Court, located on a reverse corner lot. The property is zoned for a maximum three-foot-tall fence in that setback. The project was found categorically exempt from CEQA under Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15303(e) (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures). The applicant argued that the fence was necessary for privacy and safety due to the lot's configuration and adjacent street traffic. The Zoning Administrator noted that the proposed fence would block sight lines for drivers exiting the driveway, creating a potential traffic hazard. After deliberation, the Zoning Administrator stated that the applicant had not demonstrated that the fence would not impair public safety, and the findings required for a MUP could not be made. The Zoning Administrator denied the permit.
Public Hearings - Item 3b: Medina 6-foot Fence, 2658 San Antonio Drive (MUP Y25-018)
Staff presented a request for a Minor Use Permit to allow a six-foot-tall fence in the front yard setback of an existing single-family residence, where a three-foot height is permitted by right. The project was found categorically exempt from CEQA under Section 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures). The applicant stated that the taller fence was needed to reduce noise from a nearby arterial road and to provide privacy for the front yard. No members of the public spoke in opposition. The Zoning Administrator reviewed the submitted plans and public comments. The Zoning Administrator determined that the noise and privacy concerns constituted a special circumstance unique to the property, and that the fence would not be detrimental to public welfare or adjacent properties. The Zoning Administrator approved the Minor Use Permit with standard conditions (e.g., maintenance, compliance with building codes).
Key Outcomes
- Item 3a (Akram Residence): The Minor Use Permit for a six-foot-tall solid redwood fence at 135 Las Juntas Way was denied. The Zoning Administrator found that the proposed fence would create a traffic safety hazard and that the required findings could not be made.
- Item 3b (Medina 6-foot Fence): The Minor Use Permit for a six-foot-tall fence at 2658 San Antonio Drive was approved subject to standard conditions. The Zoning Administrator found that the fence addressed unique noise and privacy needs without harming public welfare.
- Appeal Rights: Any interested party may appeal a decision of the Zoning Administrator within ten (10) calendar days after the mailing of the decision by filing a written appeal and paying the applicable fee with the City Clerk's Office.
Meeting Transcript
has transformed so um anything else for the good of the group we will yes ed come on up while he's coming up I could I just tell one fun story uh went to the National Mayor's Conference in Washington DC and you're all standing there and you have your name tag on you know what city and this gentleman came up and he was for mayor of Alameda and he said Walnut Creek hmm do you have a trader Joe's and I'm thinking I thought well we had there's one out by me so I thought I'm not sure if it's in our city limits and but I do you have Tiffany's good for you Sue it was so much fun go ahead first um I want everybody to appreciate these people these are volunteers so what these people did with the chambers and the various associations DRA and the council these were hundreds of hours of volunteers so thank you to the mic so a long time ago my wife worked at Civic Bank for Angie and then Sue when I was manager of the Gruben Else office worked with me in Walnut Creek. But I want to talk about the history of this building of the library so we've had several library locations number one this but this one was built in 2010 and so a lot of you were on the capital campaign we raised about six million dollars to make this a 1000 foot versus a 5000 so the old library was a 5,000 foot but the original library was where 1910 North Main is across from um Target that was a FUDRUCRES remember before that before FUDRUCRES Carnegie gave money to the city of Walnut Creek in 1916 so the library was there across from Target for 50 years until it moved to here. Just wanted to give you that history thank you thank you for Ed so uh one minute conclusion we're gonna start at the other end with Lynn. Just uh concluding remarks at about one minute please well I was delighted to be a part delighted to be a part of this very special gathering and I am still delighted to be a part of Walnut Creek and watch its growth and the progress and the fact that it still is a wonderful community to have a business to have a family to educate your family I just am very grateful I found my way here from Cook County Illinois for many reasons. Transport and parking and the uh I think that the the sentiment that should drive those discussions is a comment that Yogi Berra was said to have made about a restaurant he was asked about he was one of his favorite restaurants and he said well nobody goes there anymore it's too crowded and that's the problem that's that's the nutshell if you will of our parking and transportation problems you know I John Thompson who I referred to earlier was from Detroit he said you know we Detroit in the 60s didn't have any transportation or parking problems they also didn't have much of a downtown and nobody wanted to go there so these this these we have the problems we have are good problems and the solutions are though in the hands of the people on this council and the business community now so but you know you you want to make sure people are still going there. Yeah Sue I've been serving on the civil grand jury for the last year turn your button on Sue uh I've been serving on the civil grand jury for Contra Costa for the last year and a half and it looks into local government to making sure it is efficient and honest and that kind of thing and the blessing at Walnut Creek is the attitude that is here in this city I think the we've been very lucky I think there was a short period of time where we had kind of a wacky council but for the most history of Walnut Creek we've had really decent people who have volunteered their time as Ed said and an attitude of um pride and they treat each other well and treat the staff well it's a culture and it's made me very proud as I'm watching some of these other cities that are being studied and looked at and go it's not that way in Walnut Creek not that way in Walnut Creek and I remember Gary Picorney came over from he was admitted El Cerrito and he And an attitude of pride. And they treat each other well and treat the staff well. It's a culture. And it's made me very proud. Um as I'm watching some of these other cities that are being studied and looked at, and go, it's not that way in Walnut Creek, not that way in Walnut Creek. And I remember Gary Pacorney came over from he was admitted El Cerrito. And he was astounded that the staff that the council appreciated each other. They thanked the staff for their work. And so it's a culture that's in this city. It makes you proud to be part of it. I agree with Sue. I think we have an enviable community. There's a cohesive group of people working. Challenges, parking, housing is also a big challenge. Young families, it's just so so very difficult. But the chamber and the East Bay Leadership Council are working very, very beautifully together to build this, continue to build and nurture this beautiful community. I think we're pretty blessed. Yep. So thank you to the panel. Matt Bollander, thank you, and Naveed for helping us put this on. My team at the chamber, Lynn Pauline in particular. Thank you for coming today. This is just the beginning of a conversation. I'm sure your input to the uh upcoming uh general plan review will be appreciated. But thank you for your attendance today. All right, everyone welcome to the future of my green hands. Um good morning, my name is Sarah Yo, and I'm with PGE. I'm on our local government affairs team, and I'm here to welcome you today to this awesome event. Thank you to I wanna I can't really go on without first thanking Bob and the team at the Walnut Creek Chamber for putting this on. There's a lot of work that goes into these events, so thank you. Um I so this is the second year they've had this event, and when I came last year, I learned so much. I will say Walnut Creek gets a lot of my dollars, and I always look forward to hearing about all the new places that are gonna get more of my dollars as I'm here shopping and eating in this awesome city. PGE is honored to sponsor this event and to be part of this great community. Um PGE's responsibility as an energy provider goes far beyond our core mission of providing safe, reliable, affordable, and clean energy to our 16 million customers. We also have a responsibility to build a better future for everyone whose lives we touch. This means delivering for our hometowns, serving our planet, and leading with love. And yes, I did say leading it with love. If you've ever heard our CEO speak, that's one of her big things, and at PG ⁇ A we truly live by that. It means making it right and making it safe, helping drive clean energy technologies while also ensuring that their benefits are accessible to all, and it means helping communities build resilience against climate change, as well as thwarten climate change in ways that leave no one behind. So again, thank you for allowing us to be part of your community. Thank you for allowing us to be a good neighbor, and with that, I'd like to introduce Bob Lynchin. Wow, what a great turnout. It's uh it's so nice to see everyone here today to talk about the future of Walnut Creek. Um we couldn't do this event without our sponsors, and I particularly want to thank PGE.
openpublica.com