Walnut Creek Design Review Commission Meeting – March 4, 2026

The Walnut Creek Design Review Commission (DRC) held a regular meeting on March 4, 2026, with all five commissioners present (Quorum). The meeting began with the election of a new Chair and Vice Chair, followed by a study session for the proposed Oceana restaurant at 1555 Bonanza Street. No consent calendar items or public communications were presented.

Consent Calendar

• No items were on the consent calendar, and staff did not recommend moving any items to consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke on items not on the agenda, and no one testified during the public hearing portion of the study session.

Discussion Items

• Election of Chair and Vice Chair: Commissioner Basting was nominated and elected Chair (vote: 4-0-1, with Basting abstaining). Commissioner Riley was nominated and elected Vice Chair (vote: 5-0).
• Study Session – Oceana Restaurant (1555 Bonanza Street):
  • Senior Planner Jessica Gonzalez presented the project: a two-story addition to an existing building formerly occupied by Yacht Club, including exterior remodeling, a new trash enclosure, landscaping, and an outdoor dining patio on Bonanza Street. The project is a fish bar restaurant. The applicant team (Rolla Gabin, David Gabin, and architect) provided background on the family's 45-year history in Walnut Creek and presented renderings and design details.
  • The design features a light sea foam green color with bronze trim, blue and white mosaic tiles, blue awnings, and a gold metal scrim. A sloped roof on the addition is intended to respect the existing building's scale and hide rooftop mechanical equipment. Landscaping includes ficus vines on a trellis system and pervious paving for stormwater control.
  • Commissioners asked questions and offered comments on several topics:
    • The detail and attachment of the metal scrim, especially where it transitions from the curtain wall to the CMU wall.
    • The visibility of restroom windows from the sidewalk; commissioners suggested fritting the glass.
    • The feasibility of the ficus vine growing along the Bonanza elevation, noting the need for adequate soil and support.
    • The sloped roof and the need to conceal all HVAC ductwork.
    • The inconsistency between the fabric awnings on Locust Street and the metal trellis on Bonanza Street; commissioners encouraged a unified material language.
    • The type of ornamental grass specified (miscanthus) may be too tall for the narrow planters.

Key Outcomes

• The commission provided consensus guidance for the applicant to address before returning to the Planning Commission:
  1. Provide detailed section drawings of the scrim attachment, including separation from the curtain wall.
  2. Show roof equipment and ductwork on elevations to ensure full concealment.
  3. Consider fritting or other treatments for the restroom windows to obscure views from the sidewalk.
  4. Develop a detailed plan for the ficus vine on Bonanza, including soil volume and a support matrix that protects the scrim.
  5. Review the grass type and ensure plant sizes are appropriate for the scale.
  6. Explore unifying the awning/trellis language on both street frontages.
• The commission appointed volunteers for the Sign Subcommittee (Commissioners Riley and Basking, and one additional commissioner).
• The next meeting is scheduled for March 18, 2026, with an item for a pet daycare facility at Joy Bound campus.