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Record of Proceedings

Walnut Creek Transportation & Design Review Commission Meetings - July 17 & 23, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, July 23, 2025
BodyWalnut Creek, California
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, July 23, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 8:00:00

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

Aiden Heath Cooper.

0:34

Ladies and gentlemen, the North Gate graduating class of twenty twenty five.

0:47

The final three coming to the stage tonight, Kathy Lee, Davion Batra, and Ola Juni Akinsola.

1:17

Hello, everyone, my name is Kathy Lee, and I'm your senior class president.

1:32

I'm Oladoone Akin Sola, and I'm your senior class secretary treasurer.

1:41

Three years ago, I told myself that there were a lot of bad days, but the good ones outweigh the bad.

1:47

Class of twenty twenty-five.

1:48

Please remember the good days because they're all that matters.

2:04

As we move forward, I want you guys to remember the lessons, the laughters, and the friendships.

2:20

We can't wait to see you all at our reunions in the future and see how far you've come.

2:24

And as David Harris once told me, your limit is exactly what you make of it.

2:35

So, class of twenty twenty-five.

3:48

A celebration to last throughout the years.

1:43:30

Miston Call the meeting to order.

1:59:55

So the meeting for tonight for the design review commission will is now in session.

2:00:07

Um, can we have roll call, please?

2:00:10

Thank you, Vice Chair.

2:00:12

Um, Commissioner Case.

2:00:14

Here.

2:00:14

Commissioner Riley.

2:00:16

Here.

2:00:16

Vice Chair Basing.

2:00:17

Here.

2:00:18

Chair Newsom is on vacation, I believe.

2:00:22

And uh, we have quorum.

2:00:24

Great.

2:00:27

So are there any items on consent?

2:00:35

There should be on on the agenda, there should be the um adoption of meeting minutes for September fourth, November twentieth, and December fourth of twenty twenty four.

2:00:46

Um, I can make a motion that we adopt the meeting minutes.

2:00:54

Okay.

2:00:57

Commissioner Case.

2:00:58

Yes.

2:00:58

Commissioner Riley.

2:00:59

Yes.

2:01:01

Yes.

2:01:01

Okay.

2:01:02

Let's see that motion carries.

2:01:07

Moving right along.

2:01:14

Zero action approved.

2:01:16

Are there any public communications for items not on the agenda this evening?

2:01:25

Okay, seeing none.

2:01:27

Are there any ex parte communications that any of the commissioners needs to report on?

2:01:32

No.

2:01:32

No.

2:01:32

Okay.

2:01:33

Thank you.

2:01:38

So now shall we begin the public hearing?

2:01:43

Yes, staff has a presentation.

2:01:46

Uh good evening, design review commissioners.

2:01:48

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

2:01:54

Before you tonight is a proposed amendment to the master sign program for the John Muir Medical Campus located at 177 La Casa Via.

2:02:03

The project is designated as application number Y25031.

2:02:12

For some site context, the parcel is located along La Casa Villa as highlighted in blue on the vicinity map.

2:02:19

The site contains an existing three-story medical office building, which houses the Hoffman Cancer Center.

2:02:25

This site is a part of the larger plan development that makes up the John Muir Medical Campus.

2:02:34

In 2022, the design review commission approved an amendment to the master sign program to include the new medical building on the project site.

2:02:43

That approval included several exceptions to the city's sign ordinance, such as several skyline signs, freestanding signs, and increases in the overall sign area.

2:02:55

Since the most recent approval, the applicant is requesting a further amendment to the master sign program with a few updates, and I'll walk you through those changes beginning with the proposal to modify the existing entry wall signage.

2:03:08

Under the previous approval, the signs were labeled outpatient center and cancer center.

2:03:13

The applicant now proposes to replace those with the donor name, Hoffman Cancer Center.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Miscellaneous█████████████████████████████████████████████63%
Active Transportation███████████15%
Transportation Safety████5%
Zoning and Planning████5%
Procedural██3%
Economic Development██3%
Engineering And Infrastructure█2%
Public Engagement█2%
Public Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Walnut Creek Transportation Commission & Design Review Commission Meetings

The meetings focused on significant transportation planning and a design review item. The Transportation Commission received detailed presentations on the Treat Boulevard Corridor Improvements Project and the Downtown Curbside Management Plan draft recommendations, followed by extensive discussion and public comment. The Design Review Commission convened briefly to approve a master sign program amendment.

Consent Calendar

  • Transportation Commission: Approved minutes from the May 15, 2025 meeting.
  • Design Review Commission: Adopted meeting minutes for September 4, November 20, and December 4, 2024.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • On Treat Boulevard Project: Multiple residents from the Walnut District Improvement Association and nearby neighborhoods expressed vigorous opposition. They argued the project is unnecessary due to the proximity of the existing canal trail, questioned its $6.2 million cost (up from an earlier $4 million estimate), and stated that local bicyclists do not support it. One speaker noted only three bikes were counted during rush hour in an old study.
  • On Curbside Management Plan: No public comments were offered.
  • On Other Items: No public communications were made on items not on the agenda for either commission.

Discussion Items

Design Review Commission Item: Master Sign Program Amendment for John Muir Medical Campus

  • Staff Presentation: Assistant Planner Stephen Cook presented a request to amend the master sign program for 177 La Casa Via. Key changes included modifying entry wall signs and a skyline sign to display the donor name "Hoffman Cancer Center," increasing total sign area, and raising a skyline sign height to ~27 ft (requiring DRC findings). A condition to restrict illumination between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. was included to address potential impacts on nearby residences.
  • Applicant Statement: Nikki San Miguel (Clear Story) stated the new signs would match existing illumination levels, which haven't prompted complaints, and that the change streamlines wayfinding to a single destination (the cancer center).
  • Commissioner Deliberation: Commissioners discussed signage clarity for outpatient services and design consistency. One commissioner expressed concern about removing "outpatient center" signage potentially causing confusion, while others felt the design criteria were met.

Transportation Commission Item A: Treat Boulevard Corridor Improvements Project

  • Staff/Consultant Presentation: Associate Traffic Engineer Brianna Byrne and Contra Costa County's Mo Nasser (with consultant David Mahama) presented the project. It proposes constructing Class 4 separated bikeways, improving pedestrian islands/crosswalks, signal timing, and signage along Treat Blvd between Jones Rd and N Main St. Key elements include removing free-right-turn slip lanes, narrowing travel lanes, and adding bike boxes. Traffic analysis showed marginal level of service deterioration but addressed Caltrans concerns about freeway queuing. The project cost is estimated at $6.22M ($1.3M city portion).
  • Commissioner Questions & Discussion: Commissioners raised numerous questions covering: differences between bike lane classes; impact on emergency vehicle response; coordination with future I-680 improvement projects; analysis of traffic delays and queuing; safety at specific intersections (especially Oak Rd); pedestrian access on the bridge over I-680; the rationale for not using the nearby canal trail; public outreach status; and project funding/timeline (65% design complete, 95% by Dec 2025, construction anticipated Fall 2026).

Transportation Commission Item B: Downtown Curbside Management Plan Draft Recommendations

  • Staff Presentation: Brianna Byrne presented draft recommendations based on October 2024 data collection (showing 88% on-street parking utilization vs. 57% in garages) and stakeholder outreach. The plan's goals include managing parking demand, enhancing economic vitality, improving pedestrian/bicycle safety, and advancing sustainability.
  • Key Draft Recommendations:
    • Near-Term (≤5 years): Create a new high-demand meter zone, extend meter hours, improve meter/signage clarity, enhance garage wayfinding and customer experience, reevaluate/expand monthly parking permits, relocate loading zones, modify 15-minute loading zones (potentially with metering), establish flex loading zones ending at 5 p.m., and create staging areas for food delivery drivers.
    • Longer-Term (>5 years): Study rideshare discount/voucher programs, add low-stress bicycle facilities on corridors leading downtown, implement secure bike parking/repair stations/e-bike chargers, explore digital platforms for reserving loading spots, coordinate shared private parking for employees, expand street closures, and study policies for autonomous vehicles.
  • Commissioner Questions & Discussion: Commissioners discussed measuring success, potential parking revenue impacts, holiday season considerations, employee parking solutions, the feasibility of metered loading zones, beautification and accessibility in garages, future-proofing for technologies like drone delivery, and the importance of clear public messaging to avoid driving business away.

Key Outcomes

  • Design Review Commission: Approved the master sign program amendment for the John Muir Medical Campus (Application Y25031) as recommended in the staff report, including the condition to restrict illumination between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Motion passed unanimously (Commissioners Case, Riley, and Vice Chair Basing voting yes).
  • Transportation Commission:
    • Treat Boulevard Project: No vote was taken. The commission's role was advisory. Commissioners provided mixed feedback, supporting safety goals but expressing concerns about traffic impacts, cost, and the need for more stakeholder outreach. Specific suggestions included considering a one-way bike lane configuration, re-evaluating the bike lane/parking layout near Jones Rd, and implementing signal timing improvements sooner.
    • Curbside Management Plan: No vote was taken. Commissioners provided feedback on the draft recommendations, emphasizing the need for affordable employee parking options, careful messaging around rate/hour changes, and prioritization of secure bike parking.
    • Appointment: Reappointed Commissioner Ash as the commission's representative to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority Citizen Advisory Committee until March 2026.
  • Announcements/Updates: Staff reported on a successful bike rodeo safety event, submission of a grant for Oakland Blvd improvements, and new bicycle facilities installed on Trinity and Oakland.

Meeting Transcript

Aiden Heath Cooper. Ladies and gentlemen, the North Gate graduating class of twenty twenty five. The final three coming to the stage tonight, Kathy Lee, Davion Batra, and Ola Juni Akinsola. Hello, everyone, my name is Kathy Lee, and I'm your senior class president. I'm Oladoone Akin Sola, and I'm your senior class secretary treasurer. Three years ago, I told myself that there were a lot of bad days, but the good ones outweigh the bad. Class of twenty twenty-five. Please remember the good days because they're all that matters. As we move forward, I want you guys to remember the lessons, the laughters, and the friendships. We can't wait to see you all at our reunions in the future and see how far you've come. And as David Harris once told me, your limit is exactly what you make of it. So, class of twenty twenty-five. A celebration to last throughout the years. Miston Call the meeting to order. So the meeting for tonight for the design review commission will is now in session. Um, can we have roll call, please? Thank you, Vice Chair. Um, Commissioner Case. Here. Commissioner Riley. Here. Vice Chair Basing. Here. Chair Newsom is on vacation, I believe. And uh, we have quorum. Great. So are there any items on consent? There should be on on the agenda, there should be the um adoption of meeting minutes for September fourth, November twentieth, and December fourth of twenty twenty four. Um, I can make a motion that we adopt the meeting minutes. Okay. Commissioner Case. Yes. Commissioner Riley. Yes. Yes. Okay. Let's see that motion carries. Moving right along. Zero action approved. Are there any public communications for items not on the agenda this evening? Okay, seeing none. Are there any ex parte communications that any of the commissioners needs to report on? No. No. Okay. Thank you. So now shall we begin the public hearing? Yes, staff has a presentation. Uh good evening, design review commissioners. My name is Stephen Cook, and I am an assistant planner with the city's community development department.

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