Special Meeting of the Design Review Commission on October 22, 2025

The Design Review Commission held a special meeting on October 22, 2025, primarily to conduct a study session for the proposed Porsche dealership and service center. The consent calendar was approved, and public comments were heard regarding the project.

Consent Calendar

• Adoption of the 2026 commission and council calendar was approved unanimously via roll call vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tammy Kerr, representing Eco Performance Builders, expressed concern about increased traffic on the narrow Second Avenue and the impact on her business during construction.
• Jessica Clark, a resident and neighbor, stated general support for the project but requested explicit conditions to prohibit all test drives on Second Avenue into the residential neighborhood and to install no-right-turn signage.
• Patty Mitchell, a homeowner in the Larkey Park neighborhood, expressed support for the project, citing it as an improvement over previous proposals and appreciating the design and landscaping considerations.
• Steve Sigarelli, reading a letter from his wife Natalie, raised concerns about demolition air quality, building height visibility, and light pollution, requesting assurances and conditions such as lights out by 10 PM.
• Lana Georgieva, an immediate neighbor on Barton Court, voiced concerns about demolition safety, privacy, sunlight, traffic on the cul-de-sac, and noise from operations.
• Eric Payton, part-owner of Mass A's Bar and Grill, did not oppose the project but emphasized the negative impact on his business and requested that the commission consider giving them a 2 AM liquor license if they relocate within Walnut Creek.

Discussion Items

• Staff presentation by Simmer Gill, senior planner, outlined the project details, including site design, zoning, requested deviations for floor area ratio (FAR) and height, and compliance with design standards.
• Applicant Steven Scanlon and architect James Spence presented the project's operational benefits, such as internalized vehicle movement, noise mitigation through enclosed spaces, sound walls, and shielded lighting, and emphasized respect for neighboring residents.
• Commission members asked questions about traffic flow on Second Avenue, opportunities for additional tree planting, lighting hours, test drive restrictions, and improvements to the public realm.

Key Outcomes

• The commission recommended supporting a left-turn only condition for vehicles exiting onto Second Avenue and exploring physical solutions to enforce this.
• They suggested that the planning commission consider conditions for lighting, including zero light spill to adjacent properties, especially on the west side, and specific operating hours.
• Standard conditions for demolition and construction were noted as typically included in building permits.
• The commission expressed support for the deviations in development standards (FAR and height) and found the proposed signage to be in scale with the development.
• No formal vote was taken on the project as it was a study session; recommendations will be forwarded to the planning commission for further consideration.