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Record of Proceedings

Walnut Creek Planning Commission Meeting - June 26, 2025

City Council — Thursday, June 26, 2025
BodyWalnut Creek, California
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, June 26, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:10:43

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:29

Chair.

0:29

Commissioner Moran?

0:31

Here.

0:31

Commissioner Cownd.

0:33

Here.

0:33

Commissioner Strongman.

0:34

Here.

0:35

Commissioner Quok.

0:36

Here.

0:36

Commissioner Klopp.

0:37

Here.

0:37

Vice Chair Nading?

0:39

Here.

0:39

Chair Anderson.

0:40

Here.

0:41

We have a quorum.

0:42

Thank you.

0:42

You may have noticed it took longer to uh call the role than it has in recent weeks.

0:48

We haven't we should probably introduce ourselves all again because it's been about two and a half months since we last met.

0:54

And actually managed to get a quorum.

0:56

Thank you to the city council for appointing our two new members.

0:59

Um who uh both come with uh fair amount of public service in their background, uh most uh Sharise Cowned uh most recently uh with the Mount Diablo Unified School District and Brenda Moran most recently with the uh pros the Parks Recs and Open Space Commission if not aware of that.

1:19

Um so welcome and uh uh we'll get to uh know you better over the next weeks and months and years.

1:26

Thank you.

1:28

Um do we have anything on the consent calendar we do not have anything on the consent calendar now, but uh staff would recommend moving public hearing item 4A, 2800 Mitchell Drive extension to the consent calendar.

1:44

Okay.

1:45

Um have an objection to make that change.

1:50

If not, uh all right, we'll put that on the consent calendar.

1:54

Would you need a motion and a second on that?

1:56

Okay, so we need a motion and a second.

1:58

Anyone like to move?

2:00

Uh I would uh like to move that we uh move uh item 48 to a consent calendar item second second call the roll uh I was uh Cherice if you would uh call a roll on that uh Commissioner Kloppy.

2:20

Yeah, which one's I started Commissioner Klopp.

2:25

Yes, Commissioner Cowned.

2:28

Yes, Commissioner Strongman, yes, Commissioner Kwok.

2:31

Yes.

2:32

Vice Chair Knighting?

2:33

Yes, Chair Anderson.

2:35

Yes.

2:35

That's 7-0.

2:37

Can I can I vote to Chip?

2:39

Yeah, you miss Commissioner Moran.

2:42

I know you put me at the far air here, but I'm and Commissioner Moran.

2:47

Yes, thank you.

2:48

Chip is a bit near-sided, that's all.

2:50

Yeah.

2:52

Um very good.

2:53

Um that we've moved that to the consent calendar, we'll no one need a motion.

2:58

Uh consent calendar.

3:00

Um first I have to ask if there's anyone on the commission, I assume not, but also anyone in the public who would like to remove anything from the consent calendar.

3:08

Uh there being only one item on it.

3:10

Uh seeing no one jumping to the podium.

3:14

I'll assume that that can stay on the consent calendar, and I would entertain a motion uh on the consent calendar.

3:24

Go for it.

3:26

Um I move that we approve the consent calendar.

3:29

Second.

3:31

Call the role on that motion.

3:34

Okay.

3:36

All right.

3:37

Commissioner Kwok.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning and Planning██████████████████████████████████████████42%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████15%
Procedural███████████11%
Housing█████████9%
Community Engagement███████7%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Public Safety███3%
Public Transit███3%
Affordable Housing██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Walnut Creek Planning Commission Meeting - June 26, 2025

The Walnut Creek Planning Commission met on June 26, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber to consider three items: a two-year extension of a previously approved senior housing project, a citywide zoning and general plan amendment to comply with state housing laws, and a five-unit townhome development with a variance. All items were approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 4A – 2800 Mitchell Drive (Oakmont of Shadelands) Extension: The Commission voted 7-0 to move this item to the consent calendar and then approved it as part of the consent calendar. The item requested a two-year extension of the Design Review approval for a 254-unit senior housing and 136-bed residential care facility, with no changes to prior plans. The extension keeps the approval valid through August 5, 2027.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke during the Public Communications portion for items not on the agenda.
  • For Item 4C (Holcomb Court), three letters of concern were received and included in the agenda packet. The applicant (Ray Durham) noted he had spoken with residents and committed to addressing potholes on Holcomb Court and repaving the private easement after construction.

Discussion Items

  • Item 4B – General Plan and Zoning Text Amendment (Citywide): Acting Principal Planner Crystal De Castro presented a package of amendments to align Walnut Creek’s General Plan and Zoning Ordinance with state housing laws (AB 916, AB 2117, AB 2904, SB 1211, and the Housing Crisis Act). Key changes: removing the growth control policy (General Plan Policy 9.3) to comply with SB 330; allowing bedroom additions in non-conforming structures ministerially (AB 916); pausing permit expiration during lawsuits (AB 2117); increasing noticing for zoning amendments to 20 days (AB 2904); and allowing up to eight detached ADUs on existing multifamily lots (SB 1211). A minor date correction was noted (change 2024 to 2025 in the resolution). The Commission asked clarifying questions and then voted 7-0 to recommend the City Council adopt the amendments.
  • Item 4C – Holcomb Court Condominiums (15 Holcomb Court): Senior Planner Simar Gill and applicant Ray Durham presented a proposal for a two-story, five-unit townhome development on a vacant 22,651 sq. ft. lot. The project includes three- and four-bedroom units, two-car garages, 18 new trees, and a variance for an ADA parking space and flow-through planter to encroach 3.5 feet into the 15-foot front setback. The design was revised following a Design Review Commission study session, with improvements such as stepped building elevations, privacy walls between decks, aligned windows, and a low planter wall at the entry. The applicant committed to filling potholes on Holcomb Court and repaving the shared driveway after construction. The Commission discussed the ADA unit (single-story accessible bedroom on main floor), the fence material (vinyl vs. wood), and the stormwater management system (C3 planter with detention). The project is categorically exempt from CEQA under Section 15332. The Commission voted 7-0 to approve the tentative subdivision map, design review, and variance subject to conditions.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar Approved (7-0): Item 4A (2800 Mitchell Drive extension) approved.
  • Item 4B Approved (7-0): Resolution recommending City Council adopt zoning text amendments and General Plan amendment to comply with state housing laws.
  • Item 4C Approved (7-0): Tentative map, design review, and variance for five-unit townhome development at 15 Holcomb Court, subject to conditions of approval.
  • Next Meeting: July 10, 2025, at 6:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Chair. Commissioner Moran? Here. Commissioner Cownd. Here. Commissioner Strongman. Here. Commissioner Quok. Here. Commissioner Klopp. Here. Vice Chair Nading? Here. Chair Anderson. Here. We have a quorum. Thank you. You may have noticed it took longer to uh call the role than it has in recent weeks. We haven't we should probably introduce ourselves all again because it's been about two and a half months since we last met. And actually managed to get a quorum. Thank you to the city council for appointing our two new members. Um who uh both come with uh fair amount of public service in their background, uh most uh Sharise Cowned uh most recently uh with the Mount Diablo Unified School District and Brenda Moran most recently with the uh pros the Parks Recs and Open Space Commission if not aware of that. Um so welcome and uh uh we'll get to uh know you better over the next weeks and months and years. Thank you. Um do we have anything on the consent calendar we do not have anything on the consent calendar now, but uh staff would recommend moving public hearing item 4A, 2800 Mitchell Drive extension to the consent calendar. Okay. Um have an objection to make that change. If not, uh all right, we'll put that on the consent calendar. Would you need a motion and a second on that? Okay, so we need a motion and a second. Anyone like to move? Uh I would uh like to move that we uh move uh item 48 to a consent calendar item second second call the roll uh I was uh Cherice if you would uh call a roll on that uh Commissioner Kloppy. Yeah, which one's I started Commissioner Klopp. Yes, Commissioner Cowned. Yes, Commissioner Strongman, yes, Commissioner Kwok. Yes. Vice Chair Knighting? Yes, Chair Anderson. Yes. That's 7-0. Can I can I vote to Chip? Yeah, you miss Commissioner Moran. I know you put me at the far air here, but I'm and Commissioner Moran. Yes, thank you. Chip is a bit near-sided, that's all. Yeah. Um very good. Um that we've moved that to the consent calendar, we'll no one need a motion. Uh consent calendar. Um first I have to ask if there's anyone on the commission, I assume not, but also anyone in the public who would like to remove anything from the consent calendar.

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