Walnut Creek Design Review Commission Study Session on Sunnyvale Development – January 21, 2026
Walnut Creek Design Review Commission Study Session – January 21, 2026
The Design Review Commission held a study session to review the proposed Sunnyvale single-family residential development at 1725 Sunnyvale Avenue. The project includes demolishing two existing residences, constructing an eight-lot subdivision with a private street, eight two-story single-family homes (one affordable unit), and requesting 14 waivers from development standards under a density bonus, along with removal of 35 trees (11 highly protected). No decisions were made; the commission provided comments to inform the Planning Commission’s future consideration.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Multiple neighbors from Suncrest Court, Sunnyvale Avenue, and Maggie Lane spoke in opposition, citing concerns about excessive density (eight homes on a 0.93-acre lot), removal of majestic oak and walnut trees, loss of wildlife habitat (owls, squirrels), privacy impacts from two-story homes with limited setbacks, increased traffic and parking on Sunnyvale Avenue, and insufficient fence height (six feet). Several speakers requested a higher perimeter fence (seven or eight feet) and preservation of existing trees or larger replacement trees.
- Speakers included: Jillik Demandy (privacy, traffic, wildlife), Michael Mansy (vehemently opposed to density), Jason Bowman (concerned about light and privacy overlooking his pool), Laura Cotchell (shared foliage removal, tree habitat), Amanda Welch (density, parking enforcement, ADU concerns), Shua Dial (privacy, mental health, traffic), Martin (height variance, fire danger), Hillary Heibel (requested preserving tree #14, higher fences, private road parking issues), and Dave Dunning (loss of bushes, need for higher fence due to raised foundation).
- One speaker noted the ADU option could effectively create nine units, increasing population to potentially 64 people.
Discussion Items
- Commissioner Case acknowledged limited ability to modify site design due to state law, but suggested increasing perimeter fence height to seven feet and selecting larger or faster-growing tree species to enhance canopy along property lines.
- Chair Newsom noted the commission’s hands are tied on density bonus waivers, but emphasized that tree removal decisions rest with the Planning Commission; he raised concerns about the environmental review claim that the site has no habitat value, given public testimony about owls and other wildlife.
- Commissioner Riley questioned whether the fence height could be increased and whether the landscape plan could include stately trees on the perimeter for privacy and screening.
- Vice Chair Basting echoed support for higher fences and noted the importance of preserving screening shrubs where possible.
- Commissioner Case clarified that the height waiver is not applicable because the proposed roof pitch meets the additional height allowance.
- Staff clarified that the driveway location was dictated by site grading and drainage patterns.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes or decisions were taken; the meeting was a study session to gather commission feedback.
- The commission’s key recommendations to the Planning Commission included:
- Increasing the perimeter fence height to seven feet (or higher where feasible) to enhance privacy for neighboring properties.
- Enhancing the landscape plan with larger or faster-growing trees (e.g., 36-inch box) and ensuring adequate canopy along the perimeter.
- Considering measures to mitigate privacy impacts from second-story windows, such as additional screening or adjusted window placement.
- Noting that the environmental review should address potential impacts on wildlife habitat, given public testimony about owls and other species.
- The project will be scheduled for Planning Commission consideration at a later date, where decisions on tree removal permits, density bonus waivers, and final approval will be made.
Meeting Transcript
That's 15 seconds, so thanks. Thanks for coming and attending the November 19th Design Review Commission. Uh, can we do a roll call, please? Thank you, Chair. Um, Commissioner Case. Here. Commissioner Riley. Here. Vice Chair Basting. Here. Chair Newsom. Here. All are present. We have a quorum. Thank you. Next up is the consent consent calendar. Do we have anything to put on the consent calendar? Staff has no recommendations. Okay, so we move on to public communications. And this portion of the meeting is reserved for comments that are not on the agenda. Under the Brown Act, commissioners cannot act on items raised during public communications, but may respond briefly to statements made or questions posed, request clarification, refer an item to staff. Um any public communications? Outside of this subject, which is the public hearing commitment. Okay, good. Um I see there's a lot of people here. Oh, something outside, sorry. If you if you if you're gonna come up and speak on any subject, um we're gonna need a yellow comment card, and those are in the back right there, so fill them out. I see we have a few. Um so go ahead if you're gonna come up, fill out your card, so we're ready when it's time for you to come up. You'll be called up in order. So, I mean, we're leading up to the public uh public hearing here, so now I also want to have to ask. Have any of the commissioners had any ex parte communications about the projects on no? No, no. Okay, very good. So now we're gonna open up the public hearing, and looks like we have one item in the public hearing, which is the Sunnyvale Development. Does staff have a presentation? Yes, looks like you do. So why don't you go ahead, Geraldo? So good evening, design review commissioners. My name is Gerardo Victoria. I'm an assistant planner with the community development department. The project before you today is the Sunnyvale single family residential development located at 1725 Sunnyvale Avenue. So just some site context. The general plan designation for this site that's right here outlined in yellow, is single family medium, which allows three to six dwelling units per acre. The zoning, which is located down here is residential eight, and it is surrounded by other single-family homes. To the right, if you're standing on Sunnyvale Avenue, to the right is the Taiwanese cultural center located right here. The front picture is the front of the property, and the bottom picture right here. There's a driveway on the right-hand side that comes down, and this is taken on the interior of the parcel where you see the single family home, accessory structures here, and on the front, there's also an existing single-family residence. So the project description is to demo two existing single-family residences and accessory structures. Construct an eight-lot subdivision with a private street, construct a five-foot land dedication fronting Sunnyvale Avenue, eight two-story single-family homes, one of which will be an affordable unit.
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