OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Design Review Commission Meeting – July 2, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, July 2, 2025
BodyWalnut Creek, California
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, July 2, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:00

Approving design review for master sign programs.

0:03

The commission's role is to review the design, architecture, landscape, building layout, and other related project design components.

0:11

The purpose of the meeting is to provide design review feedback and consideration for projects on this agenda.

0:18

Please note that apart from its specialized roles, the commission is not a decision-making body on project entitlements or environmental review, nor does it make policy or process decisions.

0:31

Under the Brown Act and the Municipal Code, the Commission cannot act on items not on the agenda or not within the scope of its responsibilities.

0:42

For each agenda item, there will be an opportunity for public comment on your item on the item.

0:48

Thus, if you desire to speak on an item on the agenda this evening, please hold your comments until the commission considers that item.

0:56

Additionally, we have a section on the agenda titled Public Communications, which is for public commute comments for items not on the agenda.

1:06

Each person will have three minutes to make their item their comment.

1:10

Speakers representing a group will be allowed 10 minutes to speak in lieu of other members of the group speaking on an item.

1:18

Speakers will not be able to sign unused time to other speakers.

1:23

If you desire to provide public comment, please fill out a speaker card.

1:28

Those speaker cards are in the back of the room.

1:31

They're yellow.

1:32

So if you want if you want to speak, please uh fill it out and turn the card in.

1:37

Okay.

1:38

So with that said, moving right along, we're gonna move to the consent calendar.

1:46

Do we have any items on to be moved on the on the consent calendar?

1:51

Uh staff recommends none items to be moved, no items to be moved to consent.

1:56

Okay.

1:57

Thanks.

1:58

Item three, public communications.

2:00

As promised, this portion is reserved for items comment on items not on the agenda under the Brown Act.

2:07

We cannot act on these items during public communications, but may respond briefly to statements made or questions posed, request clarification or refer an item to staff.

2:19

Do we have any public communications on items not on the agenda?

2:25

Seeing none, um let's let's move on.

2:29

So before we get into the next thing, do we propose moving any items on the agenda?

2:34

Uh thank you, Chair.

2:35

Yes, the staff would recommend uh the commission make a motion to switch 4A and 4B.

2:40

Uh as 4B uh is is much less um uh a smaller project okay that okay for you.

2:53

Um okay is anybody want to make a motion?

2:55

So moved second.

2:58

Okay, all right.

3:02

Let's so then let's go ahead with item 4B.

3:07

Oh, hang on.

3:08

Oh, wait, hang on one sec.

3:09

So first one more thing before we do that.

3:12

So disclosure of ex parte communications.

3:15

So anybody on this commission been contacted by any members of the public about items on the agenda?

3:22

No.

3:23

Nor have I.

3:25

Okay.

3:26

Go ahead, Steven.

3:36

Uh it's not working.

3:42

You have the track.

3:48

There it is.

3:49

No one just does.

4:05

Okay.

4:05

Good evening, Chair, Vice Chair, Commissioners.

4:08

My name is Stephen Cook, and I am an assistant planner with the city's community development department.

4:14

Before you this evening is a request of a new master sign program for Alpine Square located at 1777 Vitello Drive.

4:22

The associated project number is the Y25009.

4:29

Beginning with site contacts, the subject property is approximately 1.5 anchors in size and is developed with an existing three-story commercial office building, totaling roughly 100,000 square feet.

4:42

The site is located at the westerly end of Otello Drive and is directly adjacent to Interstate 680.

4:48

The property is zoned office and the surrounding land uses include multifamily residential to the north, commercial retail to the east, and interstate 680 to the west and south, and a vicinity map is included on the slide for your reference.

5:04

The signed subcommittee reviewed the proposal on May 7th of this year.

5:08

Overall, the subcommittee was supportive of the master sign program with a few minor recommendations.

5:14

Specifically, they recommended the removal of a proposed freeway skyline sign location and requested that the site's identification sign include the street name along with the street number.

5:23

Following that meeting, the applicant revised the master sign program to incorporate all the subcommittee's requested modifications.

5:32

The proposed master sign program contains design guidelines and development standards that ensures consistent, well integrated signage across the property.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Housing Development Considerations█████████████████████████████████████37%
Zoning and Planning████████████████16%
Procedural██████████████14%
Transportation Safety████████8%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Public Engagement██████6%
Environmental Protection█████5%
Public Safety████4%
Public Transit███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Design Review Commission Meeting – July 2, 2025

Note: The agenda for this meeting stated that the regular meeting was cancelled due to no business. However, the commission convened and conducted business as recorded in the transcript. This discrepancy is noted.

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. The commission reviewed two agenda items: a master sign program for Alpine Square (Item 4B) and a study session for the Mitchell Town Homes project (Item 4A). No public comments were received.

Consent Calendar

  • No items were moved to the consent calendar.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public provided comments during either the public communications section or on agenda items.

Discussion Items

  • Item 4B: Alpine Square Master Sign Program (1777 Vitello Drive)

    • Staff presented a request for a new master sign program for an existing three-story office building. The program includes redesigned site identification signage, entry door decals, a consolidated garage wayfinding sign, and two new freeway-facing skyline signs. The sign subcommittee had previously recommended removal of one proposed skyline sign and incorporation of a full site address; these changes were made. The project was found exempt from CEQA under Section 15301.
    • The applicant was present and available for questions. The commission had no questions and no public comment. A motion to approve the CEQA exemption and the master sign program passed unanimously (5-0).

  • Item 4A: Mitchell Town Homes (Shade Lands Executive Park)

    • Staff presented a proposal for a 422-unit townhouse development on a 22-acre site currently occupied by office buildings. The project was submitted under the builder's remedy (SB 330) six days before the city's housing element was certified. It includes 55 low-income units (13% of total) and requests 10 waivers from development standards under state density bonus law. An environmental impact report is being prepared.
    • The project includes two architectural styles (farmhouse-inspired), eight floor plans, 955 parking spaces, 510 new trees, and community improvements such as a roundabout, raised crosswalk, and bike lane extensions. The site will have two neighborhoods with central open space, rain gardens, and a dog park.
    • The applicant emphasized community benefits and design context. Commissioners asked about open space use, private outdoor space, pedestrian connectivity, fire access, and wayfinding. The applicant noted that each unit has a balcony, and common open spaces are provided for recreation. Fire marshal clearance has been obtained. The commission discussed massing variety and the need for clear address signage.
    • No motion was made; this was a study session to gather feedback for forwarding to the Planning Commission.

Key Outcomes

  • Alpine Square Master Sign Program: Approved unanimously (5-0). The resolution includes the CEQA exemption and conditions of approval.
  • Mitchell Town Homes: The commission provided comments on site design, building elevations, landscape plan, and tree removals. These comments will be forwarded to the Planning Commission for further consideration. No action was taken.
  • The next regular Design Review Commission meeting is scheduled for July 16, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Approving design review for master sign programs. The commission's role is to review the design, architecture, landscape, building layout, and other related project design components. The purpose of the meeting is to provide design review feedback and consideration for projects on this agenda. Please note that apart from its specialized roles, the commission is not a decision-making body on project entitlements or environmental review, nor does it make policy or process decisions. Under the Brown Act and the Municipal Code, the Commission cannot act on items not on the agenda or not within the scope of its responsibilities. For each agenda item, there will be an opportunity for public comment on your item on the item. Thus, if you desire to speak on an item on the agenda this evening, please hold your comments until the commission considers that item. Additionally, we have a section on the agenda titled Public Communications, which is for public commute comments for items not on the agenda. Each person will have three minutes to make their item their comment. Speakers representing a group will be allowed 10 minutes to speak in lieu of other members of the group speaking on an item. Speakers will not be able to sign unused time to other speakers. If you desire to provide public comment, please fill out a speaker card. Those speaker cards are in the back of the room. They're yellow. So if you want if you want to speak, please uh fill it out and turn the card in. Okay. So with that said, moving right along, we're gonna move to the consent calendar. Do we have any items on to be moved on the on the consent calendar? Uh staff recommends none items to be moved, no items to be moved to consent. Okay. Thanks. Item three, public communications. As promised, this portion is reserved for items comment on items not on the agenda under the Brown Act. We cannot act on these items during public communications, but may respond briefly to statements made or questions posed, request clarification or refer an item to staff. Do we have any public communications on items not on the agenda? Seeing none, um let's let's move on. So before we get into the next thing, do we propose moving any items on the agenda? Uh thank you, Chair. Yes, the staff would recommend uh the commission make a motion to switch 4A and 4B. Uh as 4B uh is is much less um uh a smaller project okay that okay for you. Um okay is anybody want to make a motion? So moved second. Okay, all right. Let's so then let's go ahead with item 4B. Oh, hang on. Oh, wait, hang on one sec. So first one more thing before we do that. So disclosure of ex parte communications. So anybody on this commission been contacted by any members of the public about items on the agenda? No. Nor have I. Okay. Go ahead, Steven. Uh it's not working. You have the track. There it is. No one just does. Okay. Good evening, Chair, Vice Chair, Commissioners. My name is Stephen Cook, and I am an assistant planner with the city's community development department.

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