Welcome to the August 28th Planning Commission meeting.

Would you call the roll?

Yes.

Commissioner Moran.

Here.

Commissioner Count?

Here.

Commissioner Strongman.

Here.

Commissioner Quok.

Here.

Commissioner Klopp.

Here.

Commissioner Vice Chair Needing.

Here.

And Chair Anderson.

Here.

Okay.

Summer circumstance we have a full commission tonight.

Thank you for all for coming.

I believe we have nothing on the consent calendar.

Is that correct?

That's correct, nothing on the consent calendar.

We'll move on then to public communications.

Public communications, you got two chances to speak as a member of the public.

One is at any hearing that we're doing, and one is right now at the public communications.

This particular time is for things that are not on the agenda.

So if you're here to speak on something that's on the agenda, Toyota tonight, um, you're welcome to wait until we're there.

We'll get there soon.

Um, and if anyone else would like to speak now, they may do so, but I think there is no other member of the public present.

So we'll move on from that.

Um, does anyone have any exported communications to disclose?

I'm shaking hands, all right.

Once upon a time, way back there was this I did have a discussion with Toyota, but that's a long time ago before they actually produced this um application.

It was about the entire project.

Yes.

Okay.

I have owned five Toyotas in my time, but I'm only one at the moment.

All right, and that moves us to the public hearing.

Uh dealership design review and tree removal permit application.

And that's the primary items but that's for our staff report, Ms.

Gill.

Thank you.

Good evening, Commissioners.

I need my glasses.

Good evening, Commissioners.

My name is Simmer Gill, senior planner with the city.

We are here tonight to consider the final design review for the Toyota of Walnut Creek dealership.

That will be located at 2150 North Broadway and 1275 Pine Street.

Uh, the applicant uh Steve Stephen Um Stephen Scanlan is here tonight along with his team, as am I to answer any questions that you may have after this presentation.

And before we get into the uh project, I just wanted to give some crucial background.

Uh the development of the Toyota um dealership uh was envisioned in 2014 as uh in sorry, May 2024 as part of City Council's uh approval that included uh the creation of a mixed use special district, amendments to the North Downtown Specific Plan and General Plan, as well as uh the development agreement that identified development of this dealership as a critical first step.

Uh the project also advances uh city council's uh priority of economic development and downtown vitality.

Uh so this project uh would support growth of the automobile industry.

And just to uh provide some site context, uh the site, uh the parcel is zoned auto sale service custom manufacturing, which does permit auto sales and service by right.

Uh the site consists of two parcels that will be merged and it will create a L-shaped configuration as seen on the left image.

The existing uses on site uh consist of a auto dealer uh detailing shop on Pine Street and uh a vacant structure on the uh North Broadway parcel.

The surrounding area consists of a mix of retail office and auto sales and service uses, and um this image here also shows where the existing dealership is in uh relation to the proposed uh location for the Toyota dealership.

And um, this project is uh this site is located within the North Downtown Specific Plan and also located within two overlay districts the Makers Row and the Mixed Use Special District.

And what you see here outlined the outlined area is the entire North Downtown Specific Plan, all of the parcels that are within that plan.

And the two parcels of question tonight where the dealership will be built are identified with the star.

And the parcel fronting Pine Street is in the Makers Road district, and the parcel fronting North Broadway is within the mixed use special district.

And this project does meet the intent of both of these overlay districts as the project will be redeveloping an existing underutilized site, and we'll also intensify the auto sale and service uses within this mixed use district and also provide development that is visually engaging and will activate the streetscape in the makers road district.

And as mentioned earlier, as part of the North Downtown Specific Plan amendment, the mixed use district was created and a dealership was envisioned within this overlay.

And here's some photos of the existing site.

As you can see, the existing building on North Broadway on the parcel that will be demolished.

And here's more photos as you're looking into the site on North Broadway.

Here is the existing building on Pine Street.

Again, that will be demolished, and this is your essentially standing across the street and looking into the site.

And here's another view from the west and east looking towards the site on Pine.

So this the project, before I go into the project scope, I wanted to mention that Planning Commission tonight is considering the design review of the construction of a new building, the tree removal permits, as well as the sign exception for the larger blade sign that's proposed.

The project consists of a construction of a new two-story auto dealership that will offer vehicle sales and service.

The first floor consists of the showroom that's fronting North Broadway and the service area, the service repair area fronting Pine Street.

There's an outdoor lounge, customer parking, and an area for vehicle deliveries.

The second floor is the vehicle service center, which consists of 47 service phase offices and additional parking.

The rooftop is essentially used for inventory and staff parking, and there is mechanical HBAC mechanical equipment that's located on the rooftop as well.

A total of 293 parking stalls are proposed.

Of that 110 is dedicated to inventory vehicle storage.

New landscaping trees and signage is proposed as part of this project.

And I just wanted to go over design review commission's comments as this project went before the commission DRC on June 4th.

The design review commission had several good comments about the project, indicating that it will redevelop a underutilized site and revive a older neighborhood with new development.

And they provided a positive recommendation on the project.

However, did have some design comments that were related to possibly consider changing out the stone veneer color with more texture or just to avoid a more monolithic appearance.

Enhance the south and east facades by incorporating two or more colors or materials.

That is also a requirement in the city's design guidelines.

And to provide lighting details, so the city can ensure that the fixtures will be directed downwards to minimize any type of glare.

And to provide details on the illumination of the diffused glass at the North Broadway entry portal, and also details on the design of the proposed fencing.

And also to consider a fuller non-columnar tree to really create a more robust landscape appearance.

And all of these comments were addressed as part of the revised plans that you have tonight.

And moving on to the site layout, here I have an image of the existing layout as well as the proposed.

The existing buildings on both of the parcels will be demolished and the parcels will be merged, creating one lot.

Vehicle access to the dealership and service center will be provided through the 25-foot-wide driveways, and the driveway on North Broadway leading to the main dealership and showroom will function as both an entrance and exit.

And the Pine Street building elevation will have two driveways for the function of both the repair and the delivery of vehicles.

And the existing development on the adjacent parcel at the corner of Pine and Broadway will remain.

Moving on to the floor plan.

As mentioned earlier, the sales showroom and the sales customer entry and exit to the parking stalls as well as the entrance to the showroom is located on North Broadway, and the service repair entrances on Pine Street.

And I will have the applicants team really go over the operating plan or really how everything functions and works in more detail.

And here is a closer look at the ground floor plan.

I really just wanted to highlight the upper portion as the service customer entrance, as there are three service lanes that are being provided for customers that will be bringing their vehicles in for service.

As is shown on this plan, and as designed, it does allow effective queuing and efficient movements to minimize any wait times, as well as they're providing enough space within those service lanes to accommodate multiple vehicles, preventing any spillover onto the Pine Street or impacts to the traffic flow of the surrounding area.

And here is the second floor plan.

Again, the service shops consisting of the 47 bays, as well as parts and storage areas, some management offices, as well as the two outdoor patio areas shown here, I believe in the orange.

One is fronting North Broadway, the other is on Pine.

Here is the roof deck.

Again, all the inventory parking and the staff parking will be located on the roof.

And now moving on into the elevations.

Here is the front-facing elevation on North Broadway, which is for the showroom.

The primary building material consists of silver metal ACM panels, stucco red accent, horizontal band will be applied across the middle of the building on North Broadway, and a beige colored stone veneer will be applied right above the I guess the outdoor patio on the second floor, is above and below that will be a stone veneer.

And what you see the DRC version versus the updated design.

There isn't much difference on the North Broadway elevation except for the addition of the metal louver that's been incorporated, really just to give more architectural variety.

Initially, they were proposing that stone veneer, which is applied on the Pine Street side.

And here is the seals and service portion of the building fronting Pine Street.

This does feature two projecting stone veneer accents that frame an outdoor patio lounge with the remainder of the building being recessed.

Again, if you look at the DRC version and the updated, this elevation does have several changes.

And there were some, I think, operational programming changes in the floor plan that then created a little bit of a reduced width of those outdoor deck patio areas.

Again, if needed, the applicant could provide more detail and specifics on that, as they will also be making a short presentation after mine.

And the only other difference apart from that reduced width is the change in the stone veneer.

It went from that gray colored to the beige brown color.

Staff personally doesn't have a preference.

Very contemporary sleek, but I'll leave that up to the commission to decide.

And there is a condition of approval essentially asking the applicant to provide the actual material sample once one is chosen or approved tonight.

The other only other addition or change is the windows on that masonry wall.

Again, I think it's because of the changes in the interior space with more executive offices that they needed the windows.

And here is the where the above ground transformer will be located, and this shows that screen wall that is creating basically a screening for the transformers.

So it's visually aesthetically looks nice.

And here is the east elevation.

This is essentially the rear of the site.

No change has been made on this, and I believe it's the stucco and the CMU, the CMU, which is sufficient.

It's the rear facing and it's not really that visible.

And here is the south elevation, which is the side elevation, that will be to the adjacent, the adjacent tenant to the south of the building.

And the change here is DRC just said that if you could bring up or expand some of that stone veneer, apply it further up and just so they could create some sort of variation.

And given that this is partially visible from North Broadway, and here's some photos that shows that the how it applies to the side elevation, and it is visible on North Broadway.

So I think that really helps enhance enhancing the design.

And this is the Pine Street frontage elevations.

And moving on to the tree removals, the Project Arborist evaluated six trees on site, and of those, five are being removed.

Four are palm trees.

Three of those are fronting North Broadway, one in the project site, and the live oak that's along North Broadway was approved by the city arborist due to the health of the tree.

However, the remaining four palm trees does require planning commission approval, as they're in fair to good health.

I did want to point out that these were merely landscape trees that were put as part of the previous development, and the applicant is providing new trees due to the loss of these trees.

And the project is also working near the drip line of one neighboring tree, which is circled in green, so that tree will be protected in place during construction.

And here is the landscape plan.

So I again I believe this sheet has been revised, but this is what I have.

Again fronting North Broadway, I believe it's not being planted, and I'll have the applicant provide the explanation on that.

Apart from that, five gallon shrubs and ground cover is being proposed, and the vines that's shown here will be used along the screen wall for the transformer.

So this project does comply with the city's requirements and development standards.

So I'll just go through each one line by line.

The project does qualify for a class 32 CEQA infill exemption as the site is less than five acres.

Auto sales is a permitted use in both the general plan and zoning designations.

There are existing uses on site, so there's no habitat for species or wildlife, and there's existing utilities on site, and the city's traffic engineer did review a memo that confirmed that there will be no uh there'll be less than significant traffic impacts and there'll be no noise impacts because everything's contained inside the building.

And the project also has been designed to meet the city's design standards, and it meets the auto sales zoning development standards such as FAR setbacks and parking standards.

The height that's allowed is 35 feet.

The proposed height in most areas is 33 feet eight inches.

However, uh the northeast portion of the building is approximately 40 feet to the top of the roof parapet, and it is due to a steep slope or a grade change that's on Pine Street.

There is a section in the Walnut Creek Municipal Code that does allow the community development director to have the authority to approve any minor adjustments to the building's height for similar cases like this that involve any unusual deviations in the existing grade.

And the deviation is due to a six-foot slope from the top of the building pad to the sidewalk elevation that is resulting from the design of Pine Street.

The community development director has determined that this situation does constitute an unusual deviation, and a minor height adjustment should be allowed.

So listed here are all of the various types of signs that are proposed for this building.

Of note are the three primary wall signs that I have identified with the arrows.

The primary Toyota sign that's fronting the North Broadway, which is the showroom site, is the largest sign.

It's 49 square feet and it will be illuminated.

The other two identical, not identical, but the logo signs on the other elevations are 35 square feet and they will be illuminated.

A total of 191 square feet of signage is proposed, but that is well below the 200 square feet maximum that's permitted in the sign ordinance for a single ground floor business.

So as part of the approvals tonight, a sign exception is required for the blade sign.

And the sign shall should be limited to 20 feet above grade.

So the top of the sign shouldn't exceed 20 feet from the grade.

However, the applicant is requesting an exception to install a 22 square foot illuminated blade sign that will be located 29 feet six inches above grade.

So the top portion will be at 29 feet, the top of the sign.

And here is a rendering that really shows how it integrates or fits into the overall building, and staff does believe that the increased height is justified because it is installed approximately nine feet below the building parapet, and also maintains a 15-foot clearance from the grade to the bottom of the sign.

It still has that pedestrian-oriented feel and does integrate with the building design.

It's proportionate to the scale of the building, and I think it really helps distinguish the building's two functions, which is the sales and then the service and repair side, and it aligns with the overall design intent and will also improve wayfinding and site circulation for a customer wanting to just bring in their car for just go to the repair side of the building.

And with that, um staff does recommend that the Planning Commission adopt the revised uh resolution.

Actually, I should probably mention that as part for the record.

So the uh it has been up the the resolution has been updated and uh the changes have been highlighted in red font, and I believe uh all of the commissioners has a copy, and um a copy has also been uploaded to the city's website uh for the public to view.

Uh so with that uh staff does recommend that the planning commission adopt the revised draft resolution determining the project is exempt from CEQA, as well as approving the design review, the tree removal permit, and the site assigned exemption for the uh proposed Toyota dealership.

And that is all I have, but I'm happy to answer any questions.

It's a lot of information, thank you.

Um have any questions of staff, comments?

Commissioner Clock.

Commissioner, Vice Chair N.

Um, yeah, that's good.

Is the and a couple of very minor questions.

The first one is the traffic mitigation fee that they're supposed to provide, that has nothing to do with the traffic sequel impact.

It's just a standard mitigation fee that's that's applicable to any project.

It's a standard fee that applies to projects, yes.

Okay, because I didn't notice the site triangle.

So when there was no problems with to I mean, because you still have to do a traffic or technical study via traffic report to get your CAT 32.

That's correct.

So they provided a they provided a memo to the city's traffic uh department, and if needed, we do have the traffic engineer here if you have any follow-up questions, but essentially, yeah, it qualified for the class 32 because the the report that was prepared uh resulted in a less than significant impact, but the fee that you're referring to applies to any new development, the traffic mitigation fee.

Got it.

Um and then okay, so that that was so I know there's there's in and out on Broadway and Pine, which could help with the queuing because you're constantly flowing one as service, one is come by car.

Yeah.

My other question is is on Broadway, you said there was no new driveway cut, so they're utilizing the existing driveway cut.

I believe they're widening, they're yeah, they're replacing or yeah, okay the existing.

So then it could is it just is it just a sidewalk widening on pine because I notice on Broadway there's a bulb out where there's a crosswalk down the center of the street, but then when I was looking at Gensler's plans, I didn't see that.

And it looks like on Broadway, none of the street improvements match what's happening.

I don't see the bulb out, I don't see the so I believe the plans were also updated, so we'll wait for the applicants team.

Now you know my question.

I got lots.

That's probably why you caught those, yeah.

Um, I'll stop talking.

Any other questions?

Commissioner Strongman.

Uh some of my questions might be towards the applicant.

Well, we'll start out with you.

Um are the renderings or the design review recommendations built into the renderings we have on the agenda packet.

The renderings that are in the agenda, no, I don't I didn't incorporate those, but again, as part of the applicant's presentation, they have the colored renderings.

Okay from the design review commission, which they can show you the comparison.

And uh are the buildings actually two separate buildings or are they connected or one building.

It's one building.

One building, thank you.

And any um this is probably for the applicant how many employees I'll talk to you later on that one.

Uh are there any noise dampening in the service area?

I mean, they must made a comment on that it'll be quieter for the rest of us, but that's all locked into one building for the employees to hear constantly.

Is there any noise dampening built into the plan?

Yeah, that's a great question.

Um I d didn't have that information in the business operating plan, so I'll let the applicant elaborate on that.

And the second floor balcony, is that strictly for uh employees?

The second floor balconies are for employees.

Okay.

And the roof talk top parking, I have a few questions.

Is there anything to block the view of the actual park cars?

We just don't see bumpers as we're driving down North Broadway.

I believe there's the railing you're talking about the roof deck?

Yeah, the roof deck, actual roof deck.

There's a three and a half foot tall railing right above the parapet, so that should screen it.

And the lighting I was um it was described as they prefer to have only one pole to illuminate the entire top deck for security.

But to me that seems to be putting a light in somebody's bedroom in the keys or the burrillo or whatever else we have around there.

Is there any way we could actually make sure that it doesn't go outside the the property?

So I think that was one of design review commission's comment as well, either to lower the pole or to have the uh light directed uh downwards.

And are the sides of the buildings um the the buildings uh excuse me, a little bit back the signs on the sides of the buildings are great now, but at some point though those the next door properties will be developed.

Will they still be valid to have need to have the signs there?

On the existing building?

On the new building.

Uh at some point the next door's property will be hopefully developed.

Do something else I don't know what.

So I was wondering if this need to have the signs at that point in time in the future.

You're talking about the building signage or yes, the building signage.

Yeah, I mean the building signage will be part of the elevations.

Yeah, um identification for the uh dealership, yeah.

And will the signs be turned off after business hours?

I know the uh the portal, the entry portal will be turned off after hours.

I'm I am not quite certain about the the signage.

And finally, um, which is probably going to be for the applicant.

Currently we have various parcels in downtown Walnut Creek been turned over to excess parking for their competitors.

Uh I was wondering where their excess inventory is going to be stored.

I believe it's going to be at the existing Toyota site current uh in the temporary basis.

Okay.

And that's my question is for now.

Thank you.

What else?

Commissioner Moran.

Thank you.

Um I I have to commend you because uh it's those are maple trees.

In the front.

It's it's amazing exactly how when those pictures were taken that the color matches the logo color.

So I whoever did that, good job.

Um can't take credit for that.

No, I'm sure I know you didn't do it, but um, my question is the can you talk about the the makers uh overlay district a little bit because what I'm what I'm reading in the staff report is it's it's meant to generate more pedestrian-friendly, edgy design, and I and I understand all that.

Yeah, when I hear something about a maker's row, it seems to me like I'm walking down the street and I see a boutique, you know, or secondhand furniture or a metal works or something like that.

Um and I'm just would love to hear more about the philosophy about the makers row.

Um, because when I when I hear that, I don't think service center for car dealership.

I do appreciate the aesthetic changes that were made to kind of uh, you know, go along with what the idea of a maker's row is, but could you just kind of educate us about that?

Sure.

But firstly, I just I wanted to highlight that auto sales and service uses are allowed um in the zoning and the general plan as well as both of these overlaid districts.

So it it really ties in and complies.

Um yeah, as you mentioned, something more visually engaging, but it's not a boutique, it's a dealership.

So how do you make this dealership?

How do you enhance the design?

How do you make it uh look more than just you know, like how do you activate it?

So that was the whole intention behind um having that outdoor, although it is for customer use, but just to kind of revive it or you know, open it up so for pedestrians walking by to beautify it.

So I think it does meet the intent because of the outdoor upper and lower floor, and also because of the um additional landscaping that's been incorporated into the design.

So and then the high-quality materials and the way the building's been articulated.

They've also incorporated various types of different materials.

So I believe it meets the intent of the overlay.

Okay.

Thank you.

I had two questions for you, but you just asked both of them, so I'll spare these for you explaining it again.

Um other questions?

If not, thank you very much.

I'll call you back later.

We'll see.

Um, and the applicant have 15 minutes, yes.

15 minutes to present.

I'm sorry, 10 minutes.

Hopefully, we won't take all those.

Yeah.

Hi, um, as Simmer said, I'm Steven Scanlon.

I represent Toyota Walnut Creek.

Um, a journey.

We started this project in 2018, March 10th.

We've gone through two real estate resets, um, a pandemic, and now we're in a new economic environment.

Um, this is our first phase of a multi-phase development in downtown Walnut Creek, representing about seven acres in total.

Uh, as Simmer mentioned, the dealership is the first part of the first phase and the first thing that um we're looking to redevelop.

Um we're compliant.

This is a prototype dealership, we're compliant with Toyota North America standards, and this was kind of interesting because they really didn't have standards for urban dealerships.

I think there's three in the country, and this is the fourth, and they're in places like Manhattan.

And um, so the Gensler guys um really took on the urban context and this prototypical kind of state-of-the-art dealership, and and um Elwyn uh will discuss some of the operating uh uniqueness.

The world has changed in the in the dealership world.

Uh the pandemic kind of hit a reset, electric vehicles hit another reset.

There's been in parallel with what's been going on in the real estate world, the dealership world has been in um feeling that same sort of uh change.

And we've done, I think what we have is a is a first-class state-of-the-art that dealership that really recognizes um how the world has changed.

Um, Christian, sorry.

No worries.

Nice.

Good evening, commissioners.

Thanks for having us.

Uh, my name is Christian Bell, civil engineer uh for the Toyota Walnut Creek uh dealership project.

Uh we have a two-acre site that is mostly filled by structure, um, but uh we are developing the sites and we are proposing uh street improvements for the benefit of the community and usability of the site.

Um we are replacing the curb gutter sidewalk uh along both frontages of North Broadway and Pine Street.

We are adding new trees along those ways as well, and we're even providing stormwater treatments as right as a part of the new stormwater regulations that the state and the San Francisco Water Board mandate.

Um, going on to the site real quick, we provide stormwater treatment in compliance with city and county requirements.

Uh and we also provide hydro modification benefits where we reduce the runoff flow as compared to the existing site.

The existing site is mostly roof and parking, very little minimal uh previous area, and we actually increase the amount by a little bit.

And our storm drainage system helps slow down that runoff to a benefit to the um uh rain events in the area so that is our general summary from a civil point of view uh the one I'll uh jump to commissioners needing comments about North Broadway.

Uh we did need to remove one of the proposed trees along North Broadway as we needed to make room for stormwater treatment and there are a good amount of existing utilities there that need to remain um that aren't just laterals for the site so we can't get rid of them.

So in a previous rendition we did want a bull belt there for the stormwater treatment but that was actually in conflict with some of those utilities that need to remain so we have to push it to be a part of the sidewalk.

We still do provide a four foot wide ADA compliance sidewalk behind that flow through planter.

We maximize sidewalk space as much as we can through there.

Do you have questions now or do we discuss those later okay that's actually about it for what I have not as exciting as the architect scope of work here.

So all right um hello everyone my name is Ellen Baltazar uh from Gensler.

We're the architectural team that's been working closely with Steven and Christian and the rest of the Toyota team on this project.

I'd like to go over um the general layout and function of the dealership and what a typical customer might experience when they visit the dealership.

I'll start at the area fronting North Broadway.

This is considered the main entry of the building and this is also where the sales showroom is located.

And as Stephen mentioned the auto sales industry has really uh changed quite a bit over the years.

Majority of the customers before setting foot in the dealership already know uh what car they want um they've already negotiated with the dealership and uh transaction is pretty close to complete so uh this gives the dealership a chance to schedule the customer uh a time to visit um prepare their car for a test drive and if the customer is uh satisfied with everything uh they'll proceed inside the building and um finish paperwork in one of the booths uh provided um in the showroom area while this is happening their car is cleaned uh and detailed and when completed it'll be delivered in one of the six new car delivery stalls uh planned east of the showroom um the customer will then take their new car and exit towards Pine Street uh at the northeast end of the building uh the area fronting Pine Street this is considered a service uh reception area um if a customer needs their car service for whatever reason uh they'll enter uh the northwest uh dry vial um they'll be greeted and directed into one of the three uh service lanes um the porter will then take their car and do an initial inspection and the technology that they use now enables them to scan the underbody of the car um and quickly assess any frame damage or um fluid leaks uh missing components and they'll the porter will then take their car up the ramp and into the service shop on the second floor um when the customer hands off their car to the porter they'll head inside the building and meet with one of the service advisors um they'll then have a choice uh while their car is being serviced to either wait in the building where we do provide a nice environment for them um with outdoor seating um a lot of lounge areas, amenities, coffee drinks, necks, or they can leave uh the building um grab lunch, uh go shopping at the various establishments uh around the neighborhood.

When their car is ready um and finished with the service, they'll be called in and um they'll have their car delivered straight to them.

Um and again they'll exit uh towards pine street on the northeast end of the building.

And as mentioned, there were some changes to the the plan um from the DRC to now operationally we had to separate the trash room and the secure receiving room.

Um functionally, this just needed to happen uh mainly because of uh the security reasons, um, and also we don't want the um the smells commingling between the two rooms.

Um this did shorten the length of the patio um a little bit, but we believe it's still um the area, the environment that we provide the guests is still um pretty good.

On the second level, this is where the service shop is uh with a 47 uh service base.

Um and the service shop is fully enclosed uh so noise is contained in this room.

Um the service uh shop is lined with CME walls, so it does uh mitigate the sound.

Um to the west of the service shop is more offices and uh outdoor seating for the employees and training facilities.

Uh north of the service shop is uh the parts department and storage for quick access um to and from the service shop and even further north on along Pine, um we do provide a fitness center for use for all um dealership employees and more executive offices and uh conference rooms at this corner of the building.

And that's mentioned the roof is strictly for um employee parking and uh vehicle inventory space.

There were I believe some concerns on how the portal is illuminated.

Um so we wanted to show some built examples of the portal.

Um the image above is Toyota Envision in close by Milpitas, California.

So if uh for whatever reason you'd like to visit, I think that that would be a good choice.

Um and the image below is Longo Toyota and El Monte, and hopefully this image showcases how the portal is only emitting a soft glow.

Um and the light is fully diffused, as demonstrated in this diagram that we provided here.

So um if you guys have any other further questions, we'd be happy to answer them.

Thank you.

Any questions for the applicant?

Thank you.

Um so one of the things that um you described was the uh in purchasing a car, the car would be cleaned and detailed and then delivered to the new car stall.

But I noticed that it said that there was no car wash on site.

So how does that happen?

It's not a full car, sorry.

It's not it's not a full car wash, but it is um similar type to a mobile detailing car wash, so it's it's not uh one of those uh you drive through a car wash.

I see.

Okay, okay.

Um and then um just looking at security for the building itself.

Um when you have the glass pane windows that are all the way, you know, to the ground.

Um is there something that can prevent, say, a car from crashing in to break through that glass?

Yeah, so um the parking stalls directly in front of those uh storefront glazing, there will be bollards, so it prevents um any cars from driving through them.

Okay, I guess I didn't see that in the in the pictures, so it's actually inside um the parking inside the park.

But there won't be any at this facade there won't be any bollards or so um there's no kind of mitigation for a car driving through there.

So it's similar to any other establishments um on lif uh lining the streets.

Okay, okay.

Um.

And then um my other question was I think similar to um to one that was asked before, which is like in this picture right here, you show people walking across a street, and I think that's the main street, Broadway, right?

North Broadway.

Um, and they're not using a crosswalk or anything, so what are they definitely jaywalking?

So and there did used to be a crosswalk um in this vicinity.

So what what is the plan for pedestrian safety in this area?

Either crop both in terms of crosswalks and also in terms of when pedestrians cross in front of the driveways, whether it's the sales entrance and exit or on the service side when pedestrians cross.

There are crosswalks.

There are crosswalks on Broadway as part of the the Broadway Street improvement plan.

And then the site triangles were um we use the site triangles to calculate the visible distance at this at the relative rate of travel, and we're we should comply with all of that.

So it would be the exist where the existing crosswalk is, or or you're saying in the plan, in the city plan.

There are in the city plan there are crosswalks.

Okay.

And so we're compliant with those crosswalks and the site triangles as you leave or enter the dealership, those are also compliant with the city code, city standards.

Okay.

So as a pedestrian crosses in front of the driveways, is there?

There should be enough visibility.

So you see as you're driving out of the out of the facility, you see the pedestrians in plenty of time.

Okay.

So it's not the kind of thing where there's some sort of sound, um, no.

Okay.

Um then the the outdoor patio that's um the lounge area along Pine Street that's on the ground level, right?

Is that um enclosed to where it's just for people inside versus someone from outside?

It is it had there's a it's elevated and there's a railing, a glass railing.

And so it's for the it's for the people inside.

There's no access onto Pine Street from the balcony from the from the balcony or the deck.

Gosh, okay.

Thank you.

Sure.

Commissioner Strongman, did you have some questions?

I'd just like to put my vote in for the missionary exhibit number three.

Um that's in the plan as for the type of masonry, but that's later on.

How many employees do you expect to have?

Um right now we're running around 170.

Okay.

We expect that that that will increase slightly.

And is that you open at eight and close at 10, so that'll be sort of spread out over that period of time, correct?

Yeah.

So seven days a week, too.

Yeah, I think but I think we're early earlier than eight though.

I think we open at 6 30.

And uh you just confirming that she would go to the ex any excess um inventory is gonna be at the old site.

So we um the existing dealership site, we still have about 15 years left on that lease.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

No further questions.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

I just wanted to con uh thank you for the great presentation.

I just wanted to confirm uh, so current the current site will continue operation while you're able to build this new site, and then you'll be able to figure out what you want to do for the residual of that lease.

So in in our development agreement that we um we negotiated with the city, we are using the existing sites um in maintaining continuous operation while we're building the new dealership.

So we actually acquired the during the final throws of uh the entitlement process, we actually acquired the Pine Street site.

So we've got a one contiguous dealership, and um as that's being built, we'll operate on the existing sites, and then uh 2100 North Broadway, which is the existing dealership.

Our intended is to repurpose that at some point.

Thank you.

Commissioner Moran.

All right, just a quick follow up to Commissioner Strowman's question.

That there's a hundred and seventy give or take uh people that are gonna be at the new facility.

How many, and I know you don't know this, but uh how many are at the current one that'll be migrating over?

Or are we seeing a net positive or is there's everybody?

We're like 160.

Last time I checked, so this is maybe a little bit dated, but we were one sixty seven at the current facility.

We have more service base on the new facility.

I expect that number to go up.

Not significantly, but some, sure.

Good.

Yeah, yeah.

More people going out to lunch.

Good.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

This is the time for public comment on this item.

I see actually no members of the public who are not staff or applicant.

So something that's no one online waiting to get in.

We will pass that along, and you now have five minutes to respond to the public comment if you wish.

Then I will bring it back to the commission and uh for discussion.

I just wanted to reiterate great uh work, great plan.

It's really exciting to see something we've been talking about for quite a while come to this stage, and so uh thank you for all the hard work.

Um I did have one question of staff.

Um the illuminated wall.

Uh how does that comply with the dark sky requirements?

I believe it complies.

Okay.

Um, discussions, suggestions, motions.

I just want to say thank you as well for the um uh for the excellent plans.

It's really exciting to uh to see the kind of upgrades that we can have in this in this area of our city.

So um uh so if we're ready for a motion, um I would like to move that the planning commission adopt the revised resolution attachment one determining the project to be exempt from CEQA pursuant to a class 32 infill exemption and approving the design review and tree removal permits and sign exception for the proposed Toyota of Walnut Creek dealership.

Second, we have a motion and a second, any other discussion on the motion.

If not, could you call the role, please?

Great.

Um, Commissioner Moran?

Yes, Commissioner Count?

Yes.

Commissioner Strongman?

Yes.

Commissioner Quok?

Yes.

Commissioner Klopp?

Yes.

Vice Chair Needing?

Yes.

Chair Anderson.

Yes.

Motion passes.

Thank you.

Thank you all.

Appreciate your being here this evening, and good luck with that.

I will say I was um excited to see a Toyota was coming back with their first um proposal here, and uh, but it's the boring part, it's just it's the new dealership.

All the other parcels that you have, which you've got all kinds of options to deal with.

Um, really looking forward to seeing those.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right.

Um, very good.

Uh item five is Commissioner considerations.

Do we have any commissioner considerations?

None.

And uh number six is Commissioner member and staff reports or announcements.

Anyone have anything to announce?

Uh I think this announcement was made last at the last hearing, but uh we do have a September 11th planning commission meeting, um, and it will be for a Taiwanese uh cultural community center.

But other than that, I don't have any other announc announcements.

Thank you.

All right, if there's nothing further, uh, we stand adjourned.

653.