OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Walnut Creek Planning Commission Meeting - March 26, 2026

City Council — Thursday, March 26, 2026
BodyWalnut Creek, California
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, March 26, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:27:10

Transcript — Verbatim
0:10

Welcome to the March 26th 2026 Planning Commission hearing.

0:15

Can the staff please call the role?

0:18

Thank you, Chair.

0:21

Commissioner Anderson here.

0:24

Commissioner Moran.

0:25

Here.

0:25

Commissioner Cound.

0:26

Here.

0:26

Commissioner Strongman.

0:27

Here.

0:28

Commissioner Quok.

0:29

Here.

0:29

Vice Chair Klopp here.

0:31

Chair Needing.

0:32

Here.

0:33

We have a quorum.

0:34

Beautiful.

0:35

I don't believe there's any items on the consent.

0:38

Oh, sorry.

0:39

I don't believe there's any items on the consent calendar.

0:42

Well, there is nothing currently on the consent calendar, and staff has no recommendation to move anything to consent calendar.

0:47

Perfect.

0:50

Are there any um disclosure of exporté communications?

0:55

I'm seeing lots of shaking of heads.

0:58

Um for public communications, what I do want to say that there's two um options, two times when there is public comment.

1:05

There is public comment on items that are on the agenda, which is done prior to the agenda item and during it, and then items that have nothing to do with the agenda item.

1:15

So is there public comment for items not on the three agenda items that we have for today?

1:23

I'm seeing none.

1:25

So okay.

1:26

Um I'd like to then open up the public hearing portion.

1:30

The first uh item that we have is the safety element update recommendation to City Council, and it looks like staff has a presentation.

1:39

Thank you.

1:45

Do you have to see if that works?

1:56

Okay.

1:57

Good evening, Chairperson Nighting.

2:01

And members of the Planning Commission.

2:02

Tonight's item is a general plan amendment to the safety element.

2:06

I'm Crystal DeCastro, Principal Planner in the Community Development Department, and I'm here with Darren Newfield, who's our city consultant from Harrison Associates.

2:15

Staff is requesting that the commission approve a resolution recommending that the city council adopt the safety element.

2:23

This evening I'll briefly cover what the safety element is, why it's being updated, the planning process, and the key changes.

2:30

So let's start with making sure this pointer works.

2:34

Let's start with the general plan and the role of the safety element.

2:39

I don't think this is charged.

2:42

So thank you.

2:52

Okay.

2:53

So the general plan is a state mandated framework guiding the city's future development.

2:59

The safety element is one of the required elements and addresses risk from hazards such as wildfires, floods, droughts, earthquake, climate change, and other hazards.

3:09

It integrates safety into land use and transportation planning to reduce the risk to life, property, and the local economy through policies, goals, and actions that support preparedness, emergency response, and long-term resilience.

3:25

So why is the safety element needed?

3:27

The current safety element was last adopted in 2006 with the 2025 general plan.

3:33

Since then, the housing element was adopted and certified in 2023, triggering a concurrent safety element review.

3:42

The local hazard mitigation plan or LHMP was adopted in 2025, aligning with state and federal requirements such as PhenO FEMA requirements.

3:52

New legislation as listed here, also expanded requirements to address flood hazards, wildfire hazards, climate adaptation, evacuation routes, and the extreme heat hazards.

4:04

Together, these factors make an update necessary to stay consistent with current data, evolving conditions, and the state laws.

4:13

So let's go over the safety element update process.

4:17

The city initiated the safety element update process in 2022 alongside the housing element update.

4:23

It included data collection, hazard identification, community outreach technical analysis, and drafting updated policies, goals, and actions.

4:33

The process paused temporarily while Contra Casa County updated its LHMP and the state revised its hazard severity zone maps.

4:43

Because both of those were critical to the safety element update.

4:51

The process has now resumed and incorporates these updated resources and new requirements.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████████████████████34%
Zoning and Planning██████████████████████████████████34%
Procedural████████8%
Public Safety█████5%
Environmental Protection█████5%
Disability Rights████4%
Economic Development███3%
Community Engagement██2%
Housing Development Considerations██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Walnut Creek Planning Commission Meeting - March 26, 2026

The Walnut Creek Planning Commission held a hearing on March 26, 2026, addressing three items: a Safety Element update to the General Plan, an appeal of a building permit for a solar energy system at Diablo Hills Golf Course, and a design review application for a new restaurant, Oceana, at 1555 Bonanza Street. All items were approved unanimously by the commission.

Consent Calendar

  • No items were placed on the consent calendar.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Safety Element: No public comments were made on this item.
  • Solar Appeal: The appellant, Jerry Chow, along with Michael Royums, presented concerns about glare from the solar panels, stating it caused vertigo and nausea, and argued that the project required a discretionary review rather than a ministerial permit. Public comments included Ryan Iberg (supporter of solar energy, urged denial of appeal) and David Peterson (suggested planting trees to mitigate glare).
  • Oceana Design Review: No public comments were received.

Discussion Items

1. Safety Element Update (General Plan Amendment)

Staff (Crystal DeCastro, Principal Planner) presented the update, which addresses hazards such as wildfire, flood, drought, earthquake, and climate change. Community outreach identified top concerns as wildfire, extreme heat, and drought. The environmental review (initial study/negative declaration) found no significant impacts. Five comment letters were received, including from the California Geological Survey, which recommended updates on slope instability and earthquake hazard maps; these were incorporated. The commission discussed the relationship to the housing element, state incentives, and emergency radio interoperability. The commission voted unanimously to recommend City Council adoption of the negative declaration and the safety element update.

2. Solar Energy System at Diablo Hills Golf Course (Appeal of Building Permit S25188)

Staff (Frank Khan, Building Official) explained that the Solar Rights Act requires ministerial approval for qualified solar systems. The building permit was issued November 24, 2025, and construction began. An appeal was filed February 13, 2026, claiming glare constitutes a public health and safety issue. Staff found no objective standard violated and no significant adverse impact, thus recommending denial of the appeal. The appellant showed videos and photos of glare, described health impacts (vertigo, nausea), and argued the city should have required discretionary review. The applicant (Peter Lizak, consultant) presented a time-lapse video showing no glare, noted the panels have anti-reflective coating, and emphasized the financial impact of delay. The commission deliberated, noting the ministerial process was properly followed, and voted unanimously to deny the appeal, upholding the building permit.

3. Oceana Design Review (1555 Bonanza Street)

Staff (Jessica Gonzalez, Senior Planner) presented the proposal for a fish bar restaurant (Oceana) in the former Yacht Club building. The project includes a first- and second-floor addition, facade remodeling, new patio, and trash enclosure. The Design Review Committee recommended adding details for metal scrim, rooftop equipment screening, and window screening. The applicant (Mike Gabin and family) shared their family history in Walnut Creek restaurants (Hubcaps, Mel's, Broderick, Lita). The commission praised the design and its homage to the Yacht Club. The commission voted unanimously to approve the design review application subject to conditions.

Key Outcomes

  • Safety Element: Motion to approve the resolution recommending City Council adoption of the negative declaration and safety element update passed 7-0.
  • Solar Appeal: Motion to deny the appeal and uphold the building permit passed 7-0.
  • Oceana Design Review: Motion to approve the design review application (Y25-099) subject to conditions passed 7-0.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the March 26th 2026 Planning Commission hearing. Can the staff please call the role? Thank you, Chair. Commissioner Anderson here. Commissioner Moran. Here. Commissioner Cound. Here. Commissioner Strongman. Here. Commissioner Quok. Here. Vice Chair Klopp here. Chair Needing. Here. We have a quorum. Beautiful. I don't believe there's any items on the consent. Oh, sorry. I don't believe there's any items on the consent calendar. Well, there is nothing currently on the consent calendar, and staff has no recommendation to move anything to consent calendar. Perfect. Are there any um disclosure of exporté communications? I'm seeing lots of shaking of heads. Um for public communications, what I do want to say that there's two um options, two times when there is public comment. There is public comment on items that are on the agenda, which is done prior to the agenda item and during it, and then items that have nothing to do with the agenda item. So is there public comment for items not on the three agenda items that we have for today? I'm seeing none. So okay. Um I'd like to then open up the public hearing portion. The first uh item that we have is the safety element update recommendation to City Council, and it looks like staff has a presentation. Thank you. Do you have to see if that works? Okay. Good evening, Chairperson Nighting. And members of the Planning Commission. Tonight's item is a general plan amendment to the safety element. I'm Crystal DeCastro, Principal Planner in the Community Development Department, and I'm here with Darren Newfield, who's our city consultant from Harrison Associates. Staff is requesting that the commission approve a resolution recommending that the city council adopt the safety element. This evening I'll briefly cover what the safety element is, why it's being updated, the planning process, and the key changes. So let's start with making sure this pointer works. Let's start with the general plan and the role of the safety element. I don't think this is charged. So thank you. Okay. So the general plan is a state mandated framework guiding the city's future development. The safety element is one of the required elements and addresses risk from hazards such as wildfires, floods, droughts, earthquake, climate change, and other hazards. It integrates safety into land use and transportation planning to reduce the risk to life, property, and the local economy through policies, goals, and actions that support preparedness, emergency response, and long-term resilience. So why is the safety element needed? The current safety element was last adopted in 2006 with the 2025 general plan.

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