OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

April 9, 2026 Planning Commission Meeting: Ignacio Center Food Trucks Approval

City CouncilThursday, April 9, 2026
BodyWalnut Creek, California
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, April 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 19:24

Transcript — Verbatim
0:06

Okay, good evening and welcome to the April 9th Planning Commission meeting with the Secretary.

0:11

Please call the roll.

0:14

Yes.

0:15

Commissioner Anderson.

0:17

Here.

0:18

Commissioner Moran.

0:19

Here.

0:19

Commissioner Cowend?

0:20

Here.

0:21

Commissioner Strongman.

0:22

Here.

0:22

Commissioner Quok.

0:24

Here.

0:24

Vice Chair Klopp.

0:26

Here.

0:26

And Commissioner Needing.

0:27

Here.

0:28

Thank you.

0:29

And looking at the staff report or the agenda, I don't believe so, but just to be clear, do we have anything on the consent calendar?

0:36

There's nothing on the consent calendar.

0:38

Perfect.

0:38

Now there are two opportunities for the public to provide comment.

0:42

The first is during each of the item as it pertains to the item.

0:46

And the second is that if it's a comment that's not on the agenda but is within the purview of the planning commission.

0:53

So are there any uh public comments for items not on the agenda?

0:59

Seeing none, okay.

1:03

Perfect.

1:04

Um I'd like to ask the commissioners if anyone's had any ex parte communication.

1:12

None.

1:12

Okay.

1:13

Then with that, let's move on to item number four public hearing, which is Ignacio Center Foods truck special use permit application.

1:23

I believe that we have a staff report.

1:26

Yeah, and I actually wanted to just um for the record state that Curtis is our new associate planner, and this is his first um hearing or presentation before this commission tonight, and we're very happy to have him as part of our team.

1:39

I agree.

1:40

Welcome, Curtis.

1:41

Thank you, Certainly.

1:43

Appreciate it.

1:44

Let's see if I can get the slides working.

1:45

And we're talking food trucks, so I hope we don't get too hungry.

1:50

All right.

1:52

Well, good evening, Chair and members of the planning commission.

1:54

My name is Curtis Sawyer, associate planner with the um community development division.

1:59

Now, before you tonight is an application for a special use permit for food truck operations at 1990 North California Boulevard, more commonly known as the Ignacio Center.

2:14

The project is located at the Ignacio Center within an existing pedestrian courtyard.

2:19

The subject parcel is zoned to office with a general plan land use designation of office commercial.

2:25

As seen on the screen, the red arrow indicates where the project will be located.

2:30

And even a little bit more refined if I can get our laser pointer to work right in there.

2:39

As proposed, that and identified in the applicant's business plan, the goal of the project is to enhance the workplace experience for the Ignacio Center tenants and to provide high quality diverse lunch options for the local community.

2:53

Food truck operations will occur twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays between the hours of 11 a.m.

2:58

and 2 p.m.

2:59

Services will be made available to employees and to the general public.

3:03

As identified in the applicant's application materials, a maximum of four food trucks will be on site during designated days.

3:11

The sales service and consumption of alcohol is not allowed as a part of this application.

3:16

And again, if you could direct your attention to the screen, the star here indicates the existing courtyard location.

3:23

And then as you can see on the site plan, we have a representation of four food trucks to be located within the courtyard at any given time.

3:40

City divisions, such as traffic engineering, police, and county fire have reviewed the project to ensure compliance with local code requirements and to ensure that uh the public right-of-way will not be impacted, and of course, to ensure public safety.

3:57

Here is a view to the west, in which you can see the removable parking ballards from where the service area will be accessed.

4:05

Making our way along, here's a view of the existing courtyard.

4:11

And again, continuing along, we see a view of some of the existing seating within the courtyard area.

4:18

And this is an image actually of uh one of the indoor seating options that will be made to the available to the public as well.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning and Planning█████████████████████████████████████████████55%
Economic Development█████████████████21%
Transportation Equity████████10%
Procedural█████6%
Community Engagement████5%
Public Safety██3%
Summary of Proceedings

April 9, 2026 Planning Commission Meeting: Ignacio Center Food Trucks Approval

The Walnut Creek Planning Commission met on April 9, 2026, to consider a special use permit for food truck operations at the Ignacio Center, located at 1990 North California Boulevard. The commission unanimously approved the permit, which allows up to four food trucks on site two days per week. The meeting also included updates on transportation funding and a recent City Council decision upholding the commission's approval of the Mitchell Town Homes project.

Discussion Items

  • Ignacio Center Food Truck Special Use Permit (Item #4): Associate Planner Curtis Sawyer presented the application for a special use permit to allow food truck operations within an existing pedestrian courtyard at the Ignacio Center. The proposed operations are for Mondays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a maximum of four food trucks. Alcohol sales are prohibited. The permit is based on Section 10-2.4.701 of the zoning ordinance, which allows the planning commission to approve uses not classified in the ordinance if they provide a necessary service to the community. Staff supported the application, finding it consistent with the general plan's goals of a vital and diverse economy. The applicant, Brandon Farrell of Hall Equities Group, stated that the program responds to tenant demand and aims to eventually lead to permanent food tenants. The property manager, Diane, noted that sandwich board signs and local promotion will be used to attract the public. Commissioners asked about potential expansion, indefinite permit duration, traffic circulation (trucks must back out the way they entered), and the use of a local food truck coordination service called 'the food truck mafia.'
  • Commission Considerations (Item #5): Vice Chair Klopp provided an update from TransPAC (Central Contra Costa group under the Contra Costa Transportation Authority), which is evaluating twice as many funding requests as available. The City of Walnut Creek, City of Concord, Choice in Aging, and Rossmore presented transportation projects aimed at improving access for people with limited access and disabilities.

Staff Reports & Announcements

  • Staff announced that on April 7, 2026, the City Council upheld the planning commission's February 12, 2026 decision on the Mitchell Town Homes project, certifying the EIR and denying both appeals.
  • The April 23, 2026 planning commission meeting is canceled. The May 14, 2026 meeting will include items on short-term rentals, an appeal (Galpa Galpo Gacho), and Restoration Hardware.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to Approve Resolution for Ignacio Center Food Trucks (Special Use Permit Y25-094): The commission voted unanimously (8-0) to approve the resolution, as amended to correct the effective date from April 9, 2026 to April 19, 2026 (ten days after mailing of the decision).

Meeting Transcript

Okay, good evening and welcome to the April 9th Planning Commission meeting with the Secretary. Please call the roll. Yes. Commissioner Anderson. Here. Commissioner Moran. Here. Commissioner Cowend? Here. Commissioner Strongman. Here. Commissioner Quok. Here. Vice Chair Klopp. Here. And Commissioner Needing. Here. Thank you. And looking at the staff report or the agenda, I don't believe so, but just to be clear, do we have anything on the consent calendar? There's nothing on the consent calendar. Perfect. Now there are two opportunities for the public to provide comment. The first is during each of the item as it pertains to the item. And the second is that if it's a comment that's not on the agenda but is within the purview of the planning commission. So are there any uh public comments for items not on the agenda? Seeing none, okay. Perfect. Um I'd like to ask the commissioners if anyone's had any ex parte communication. None. Okay. Then with that, let's move on to item number four public hearing, which is Ignacio Center Foods truck special use permit application. I believe that we have a staff report. Yeah, and I actually wanted to just um for the record state that Curtis is our new associate planner, and this is his first um hearing or presentation before this commission tonight, and we're very happy to have him as part of our team. I agree. Welcome, Curtis. Thank you, Certainly. Appreciate it. Let's see if I can get the slides working. And we're talking food trucks, so I hope we don't get too hungry. All right. Well, good evening, Chair and members of the planning commission. My name is Curtis Sawyer, associate planner with the um community development division. Now, before you tonight is an application for a special use permit for food truck operations at 1990 North California Boulevard, more commonly known as the Ignacio Center. The project is located at the Ignacio Center within an existing pedestrian courtyard. The subject parcel is zoned to office with a general plan land use designation of office commercial. As seen on the screen, the red arrow indicates where the project will be located. And even a little bit more refined if I can get our laser pointer to work right in there. As proposed, that and identified in the applicant's business plan, the goal of the project is to enhance the workplace experience for the Ignacio Center tenants and to provide high quality diverse lunch options for the local community. Food truck operations will occur twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

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