Good evening.

I would like to welcome you to our design review commission for Wednesday, June 17th.

My name is Karen Basting.

I'm the chair this year.

And if you wish to address the commission, please fill out a speaker card when invited by me or staff to bring your card up.

Please bring it up and hand it to the secretary and state clearly your name and address and whom you represent.

The purpose of a public hearing is to supply us with information that we can't otherwise obtain.

And so please limit your testimony to factual information that will assist in the decision making process for the topic at hand.

In order to facilitate an efficient meeting, please avoid repeating previous testimony and observe the time limits so that everybody has a chance to speak.

So again, welcome to you all.

I'll do that.

Okay, you're gonna do that.

Chip's gonna do that.

Secretary will call call role.

Commissioner Newsom.

Commissioner Pros.

Here, Commissioner Case.

Vice Chair Riley.

Here.

And chair besting.

Here.

We have a quorum.

Yay.

All right.

Do we have any items on consent calendar?

We have no items on consent calendar and staff doesn't staff has no recommendations to move any to the consent calendar.

Okay.

Does any member of the public have any communication or comment that on an item that is not on the agenda that they would like to speak with us about?

Okay, seeing none.

Do any of the commission members have any of you had any ex parte communications?

All right.

Well, now we'll proceed with the public hearing.

Thank you.

Good evening, Commissioners.

Uh Simmer Gill, senior planner with the city.

We are here tonight to gather design review commission's feedback on the proposed Center Place South Multifamily Development.

That will be located at 1271 South California Boulevard.

And just to quickly orient you with the site, it is uh has a general plan designation of general retail and is zoned central retail.

The site is approximately 1.32 acres, and the existing single-story commercial building on site will be demolished for proposed construction.

And the existing site does a butt the Alma Park and the surrounding area consists of a mix of commercial and retail uses.

Let me see if I could use this.

And there are residential uses behind the site and along the west of the site.

And again, I'll use my clicker just to show what the surrounding context or area has.

The other uses are residential or multifamily that are located behind this project site.

And then there are office buildings along Olympic, yeah, and then there's commercial buildings such as the Habit Burger and other tenant spaces along South California.

And the general retail general plan does encourage or is intended for commercial development, however, encourages ground floor retail activity.

The general plan also does allow multifamily residential uses in commercial districts, provided they comply with zoning requirements and applicable city codes.

And this site is zone central retail, which does permit residential development when there is an adopted specific plan for that area.

So the Alma Park specific plan does envision residential development, and I did want to point out that the specific plan does not establish residential density through a units per acre standard.

The residential intensity here is regulated through a floor area ratio that does allow a maximum of two 2.0 if affordable housing is provided.

And both the general plan and the specific plan regulate the development through floor area and not the standard units per acre that we typically see for general plan designation density ranges.

Moving into the project, it is a 172 unit multifamily rental development and does include 26 affordable units.

Seven-story building with a mix of a studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom units.

The units range from 582 to 1300 square feet of unit sizes, and 204 parking spaces are provided for the residents.

And there are 47 additional spaces that are reserved for the adjacent commercial retail uses to the north.

And there's also a central open space area within the building, which we'll go more into detail when we review the floor plan.

And 59 new trees are proposed as part of the landscaping palette, and there are 30 trees on site that will be removed for project construction.

Frontage improvements include 10 foot wide sidewalks, street trees, as well as one new street light along Botello Drive.

So tonight, the design review commission will provide feedback and input on the design review, the tree removals, as well as the density bonus and waivers, and that feedback will then be taken to the planning commission for their consideration at a later date, where planning commission will consider the project as well as the associated entitlements.

Before I go into the project details, I did want to highlight that this project is being processed under several state housing laws.

The first one being the Housing Accountability Act, which states that for residential projects, the city's review is limited if the project meets all applicable objective standards.

And if the project were to be denied, the city would need to make specific health or safety findings.

And under Senate Bill or SB 330, it essentially streamlines the project's that meets objective standards and prevents the city from reducing the residential capacity or density of the project.

And as mentioned earlier, the general plan and the Alma Park Specific Plan regulate the development through a floor area ratio rather than a units per acre.

So in that sense, the city needed to determine the base density, and under state law government code section 65915, there is an avenue for that where you could determine the base density through a volumetric analysis, and that was performed for this site, where it takes the objective standards of the such as the maximum floor area that would be allowed under without any waivers.

It takes that information as well as the building height, which is 35 feet, and the required setbacks if you were to build on this project is also being processed under AB 1287 that does apply to this project as the project is can stack density bonus bonuses when affordable units are provided in multiple income categories.

In this case, the applicant is providing 13 very low-income units as well as 13 moderate income units.

And for both of those, they get a 50% density bonus increase, resulting in 86 total additional bonus units and taking the project's density to 172 units.

Density bonus also allows waivers to the city's development standards when it's necessary to accommodate housing or affordable units on site.

And this project is requesting a total of 10 waivers.

And here, this is also in the staff report, and I believe the applicant provided an attachment that goes into all of these waiver requests and the justification why it's needed.

But I'll just quickly touch on one.

These are the 10 waivers that are requested.

Three of these are sorry, two of these are from the central retail zone, and the other ones are directly from the Alma Park specific plan development standards as well as design standards that are being waived.

One such being the floor area ratio.

1.5 is typically allowed, 2.0 is allowed since they're providing affordable housing.

The applicant is proposing a floor area of 3.43, and that is allowed as the applicant is entitled to the waivers as project qualifies for a density bonus under state law.

And the city did evaluate the waivers, and based on the evidence that's presented in the record, it was determined that these would not result, any of these waivers listed here would not result in any health or safety impacts.

Therefore, the city is supporting the waivers.

And here is the existing and proposed site plan.

And here's a closer look at that site plan.

Vehicle access is provided from both Botello and South California Boulevard through two separate driveways.

A shared driveway along the southeastern property line provides access to the residential units as well as the retail parking.

These are separate garage entrances.

And then there's a separate entrance on Botello that provides access to the basement, which is again for the residential parking only.

The shared driveway here leads both to the retail and the residential parking.

And here is just a closer look at all of the floor floors and the parking levels through this section detail.

The basement level one and level two parking areas do function as one integrated parking structure that's connected by internal ramps within the building, and the residents could move between all parking levels without having to exit the building.

And here again, I've highlighted access into the retail parking garage.

This is for visitor parking, and it is located on level one near that near the commercial building, the Habit Burger, and there is no gate, so you don't need to like go through any codes or anything.

You could just pull directly into that garage.

And here is the upper floor layout.

What you see to the left is the third floor, and above this are the remaining floors that have units.

The internal courtyard is located there for amenity that provides amenities to the residents.

And here is the seventh floor.

Again, residential units are located on this floor, but there's also additional amenities such as the club room and the roof terrace that's provided.

And now moving into the project elevations.

This is the view from South California, and it does consist of primarily the pedestrian frontage and residential entrance.

And the leasing, this also shows the leasing office, the meal room, and the fitness center, which do activate that streetscape.

And the design also includes large storefront windows, recessed balconies, and building offsets.

And here is the view from it's at the corner of both Botello and South California, but essentially trying to show the view from Botello.

And this accommodates vehicle access, loading, and service functions, and I believe the applicant's team has a presentation tonight, and they'll go more detail into the design concept and the thought behind it.

And here is the elevation that's facing Alma Park.

As you can see, the residential units and balconies on the west elevation overlook the park.

And here is the uh north elevation.

Um, and here's a closer look at the parking garage entrances again for the uh retail and the residential.

And um, this um incorporates residue residential units, balconies, and parking access.

This elevation.

And here's just a closer look at the color material palette, and um the actual color material palette has also been provided, and it is behind the design review commission secretary.

So if it needs to be passed around, we can pass that around for a closer look.

But um the project is utilizing a contemporary mix of stucco, brick veneer, tile accents, and decorative metal screening.

And there's a mix of earth tone colors as well as uh shades of white gray, beige, and charcoal, and is complemented by brick and uh metal accents.

And here is the proposed landscape plan.

There are a total of 59 new trees, which range in size from 24-inch box to 60 inch box in size, and the species consists of coastal live oak, strawberry, pistachio, uh red buds, and London plain trees, and two of the existing crepe myrtle trees along South California are also being uh preserved as part of this project.

And again, the applicant's team um could go into uh more detail on um regarding the landscape plan.

Here, just a quick look at the ground floor landscaping as well as the courtyard landscaping.

And this project also proposes the removal of 30 trees on site, um, which also includes um eight uh coastal live oak trees.

Uh the uh Arborist report that was provided was um incomplete.

Um so the applicant is um working on revised plans as well as an updated arborst report so the city arborist could review and evaluate the trees as well as determine which ones could be approved administratively and which ones will require planning commission action.

Um with that staff does recommend that the design review commission review and comment on the site site and building design as well as all of the other associated entitlements listed on the slide, and um DRC's feedback or any members of the public's feedback will be uh forwarded to the planning commission for their consideration of the project and the entitlements.

That is all I have, but um, happy to answer any questions for you.

Any questions?

Yeah.

I believe the applicant has a presentation as well.

Okay, we have our getting set.

Uh good evening, Madam Chair, members of the commission.

I'm Ed McCoy.

I'm with Fairfield Residential.

Um, happy to be here tonight.

Now, first I want to thank uh Chip and Simmer.

Uh so far it's been nothing but a professional process, and we appreciate that.

Uh, to get to this point, and we look forward to continuing to work with them in a cooperative manner.

Um, with me tonight also is members of Fairfield as well as our architect uh who will be doing the presentation.

Ed who's behind me.

We have uh MJS or landscape architect as well as uh Will from CBG, uh our civil engineer and MGS, we have Dan Dell as well.

Um, do we just push this button here somewhere?

Yes.

I'm just gonna do a quick Fairfield overview and then get hand off to Ed.

Um Fairfield is a privately held company.

We're headquartered in San Diego.

Uh we only do multifamily development.

We do rental housing and mixed use.

Uh we're across the United States.

Our footprint is from coast to coast.

We are a full service company.

We do our own site acquisitions, we build our own properties, we manage our own properties.

Um, my group here tonight is our development team.

Once we're done, uh, if everything goes well and we get approved ultimately, we'll hand it off to our construction team and we'll then build it.

Since 1985, we've developed more than 100,000 luxury apartment homes, and we currently manage over 40,000.

So we're very um well known in the industry, and uh anybody who does their homework on us would see that we have a pretty good reputation.

We take pride in redeveloping sites like this, infill sites that are underutilized in downtown settings.

So this type of a situation for us, this type of a site is really in our wheelhouse, and we look forward to creating something that's not only our company, but that the city of Walnut Creek can be proud of as well.

Again, we're here to answer any questions from the Fairfield side, but uh since this is design review, I'm gonna go ahead and hand off to our very talented architect Ed and let him uh walk you through the project.

Thank you.

Great.

Thanks.

Thanks, Sean.

Um, good evening, Chair, Vice Chair, and Commissioners.

Uh, again, my name is Ed Kim with KTGY, the project architects.

Um, rather than repeating the project metrics that uh Samar's been uh thoroughly uh explained, I do want to walk through what has uh ultimately shaped the site plan.

Um, the design decisions, the program placement, uh, and the coordination so far with city departments and external um agencies.

Um our priority uh as a design team has been South California frontage, as our active uh facade, right?

The large arrow, the I guess the golden arrow that you see on the south of this image or the bottom of this image indicates the residential um entry off of an entry plaza and engages the street.

Um the pink or the salmon color indicates kind of all of the active uses that we propose along that uh South California Boulevard frontage.

Um again, fitness lobby leasing uh amenity spaces.

Um the red arrow, as Samar mentioned, um, off of South California solves kind of the retail obligation, right?

Uh for the replacement parking on this site.

And so, with a shared mutual access agreement, uh, access agreement, um, residents can park through level one or resident or retail patrons can continue and park where the blue arrow shows for dedicated retail parking spaces.

Um the right arrow on the left of this image off of Patello, again would be towards um or would be the entry point for the subterranean garage for residents.

Um the smaller golden arrow on Botella also indicates um kind of a secondary lobby space for residents, so there's access on both street frontages.

Um does do a lot of the heavy lifting for this project in terms of back of house uses and service and utilities.

Um again, this has been coordinated with some direction with city departments as well.

Um, uses uses such as the non-passenger loading, fire pump, electrical room, utility rooms are all consolidated there, and that's a deliberate design um choice uh to preserve as much of South California for active use.

Um we approach this project uh like we do all projects through the lens of you know cities um uh regulations and in this case and in Walnut Creek, uh the city's design review standards and guidelines.

Um not as necessarily a compliance um uh checklist, but really a design framework.

And so our and I'll get into the details in the following slides, but our building design aims to achieve visual interest through measures such as massing articulation, varied materials, and a cohesive design aesthetic.

Um again, all strategies explicitly outlined and identified within the DRSG.

Um, some of the following key goals uh from the DRSG have directly informed the building design.

Um at the residential entry off of South California, this is a really cool feature that I'm gonna try to do.

Uh yeah, right there.

Uh right here, um, is the resident entry.

And what it does is it creates this uh vertical massing break that varies from five feet uh to up to seventeen feet from adjacent wall surfaces.

Um this allows us the architectural language to transition between volumes rather than being expressed as a single uninterrupted mass.

That recess wall, right, does multiple things for this project.

It also creates a recessed opportunity at the uppermost floor and a step back to be able to provide kind of an outdoor terrace for a residence in the format of amenity there.

Per the DRSG as well, you know, rhythm facade is one of those elements, and so an established uh rhythm and order with the vertically vertically stacked windows and the patterns, as well as working in conjunction with the minor massing relief with the balconies that are about five feet deep and about 10 feet wide.

Um again the the focus rendering on the right hand side on the lower image there, is shown at a slightly different time of day.

However, the intent is to show and demonstrate the goal of a double height uh transparent lobby, leasing, and amenity program that engages the entry plaza.

We paid particular attention to this facade, and the things that we're uh intending and our goal here was to build variation through material and color with each of the massing expressions and elements.

This facade showcases three different types of premium materials at the ground floor.

Um that would be the tile at the pedestrian corner there at the intersection, and two different types of brick.

Um the brick would be at the kind of the brown that you see in this location, emphasizing a strong corner element, continuing down to the garage facade.

Um and then the second brick or the alternate, the lighter brick that's in the materials board in front of you, continues and carries through the pedestrian level, kind of closer to the shared.

Oh, sorry, the resident subterranean garage.

Um decorative screening would also be introduced within the garage to provide visual interest at the pedestrian level and also at the same time help with limiting light spillage onto the street.

Um window recesses uh are um per DRSG would be two inches, kind of throughout this project.

Um the physical materials board, again, as you can reference, uh the pallet is oriented towards a timeless aesthetic.

Um brick is again the key featured material.

Um, it helps establish a residential scale and is consistent with the number of existing buildings kind of within the context in this neighborhood.

Um the total percentage of brick, just to kind of give you a big ballpark number, along the street frontage of uh along South California where about 21% of that facade as brick, so a premium material there, and then 17% along Botello, altogether about 38% of the street frontages.

Um, in addition to the brick, storefront glazing and tile, that happens on the ground level or the pedestrian level would contribute um uh would contribute an additional um almost uh yeah, it contributed an additional uh 15% along the um California edge.

And so we're really trying to exemplify kind of as much transparency and premium materials at the pedestrian scape and the streetscape.

Um again, no prohibited materials from the DRSG appear within this palette, and then lastly, building and landscape materials are working cohesively together across this project.

Signage at this stage is conceptual, you know, identifying potential location and sizing.

Um, however, Fairfield does uh go through a much more focused uh signage and branding identity package, and so that will continue to evolve and become great and it'd be explored in greater detail as the project advances.

However, the current approach, just to kind of give a high level again, distinguishes between pedestrian and vehicular signage, project identity and wayfinding signage for pedestrians would be illuminated, and those that are more vehicular oriented or service oriented, such as the garage, loading, and retail parking would not be.

Trees that match the existing street program, creating a cohesive and unified character along that street frontage.

South California Boulevard will feature an expanded entry plaza, anchored by a coast live oak.

So this oak tree and the proposed art piece would be set within a raised planter incorporated with integrated seating.

The plaza's modern organic forms soften the edge between sidewalk and the private realm, encouraging pedestrian interaction and activation.

The pool deck, the pool deck here, as well as the rooftop amenity, provide rate a range of resident experiences with California-inspired aesthetic.

Is a mix of climate appropriate trees and water conscious shrubs selected for long-term performance.

The overall character is again modern California, incorporating a variety of forms, foliage colors, and textures.

The result is a resilient and dynamic landscape that provides year-round interest and reinforces the project's identity.

The DRSG here has been a genuine design tool and not a limitation.

We believe the building can have a positive contribution to the South California Boulevard, architecturally be compatible with its context, meaningfully engage with the street frontages, and be designed to serve its residents and the community well over time.

We appreciate the committee's time and we look forward to your comments.

Thank you.

Could you talk a little bit about the alma facing elevation?

What the logic and development of that was?

Yeah, here let me see if I can.

Yeah, so from a uh volume standpoint, again, we're still trying to limit the quantity or the length of a parent face, and so there are vertical recesses that are interjected to be able to break the module up.

And so again, similar strategy with the massing articulation and modulation, that this isn't a long linear elevation.

We use those massing brakes strategically to also change or alternate colors, so it does feel like there's a series of volumes rather than a single uninterrupted mass.

What about landscaping?

Would you do anything with landscaping on that side of the building?

Yeah, so there is private um balconies.

Um see if I can get to a floor plan.

Um so there are the I don't know if I have a fuller plan on the slide deck, but um there are anticipated uh private residences and terraces at kind of at that garage level, or where the where you see the railing in there.

Um so there would be opportunity for planters and so forth.

Then how does how does like uh your how do your occupants access that park?

Is that was that thought about?

If I could just jump in there, Ed McCoy again.

Um we had a neighborhood meeting last night at the property, and um one of the neighbors uh identified that wall at the base as being uh you know something that they didn't want to look at because obviously it looks like a blank wall.

Excuse me.

So I thought it was a good comment.

Um we met with our landscape architect today, and in regard to the landscaping along that base, we're looking at potentially adding some some cascading vines along that edge to to hide that uh concrete wall.

So that was a comment that um again I uh that we will be addressing in our next iteration.

And I'm sorry, what was the next question?

I think you I think you kind of answered it.

I mean, is that how do you soften that a bit?

So I think I think I think that's good.

Well, I mean, I guess if you know, it's that park is such a great amenity.

How how do you guys plan on uh accessing it for your residents?

Yeah, this this property um years ago was all one one parcel.

It's been recently subdivided.

Um, when it was one parcel, the access was located next to the Schwab building in a in a stowa stirwell, if you will.

Right.

Uh and that was uh acting as the access from this overall parcel into the park.

So we don't have a direct access from this particular building into the park.

We'll be using that, and we have access agreements with the adjacent property owner to allow not only vehicular but also pedestrian cross access.

All right, cool.

Um, I mean, I I'm not gonna comment about the density.

I know we we've been through this a few times, and I know there's not much we can do about it.

Um, maybe any other comments.

Yeah, I've got a few, please.

Um when I first known this project, I was reminded of my readings from architecture school.

Uh and uh specifically the location of the lobby.

And so I I dug up this quote.

So 1961, Jane Jacobs wrote in her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities, which emphasized the corners of the natural mixing points of urban life requiring distinct architectural framing to support safety and socializing.

She wrote the natural place for overlapping and mingling are street corners.

Those nodes require a clear architectural definition to anchor the eyes of the street.

I don't get that with this project.

The lobby has been moved to the center of the block.

If I walk out that lobby space, I see a burger joint.

I see across the way I see a garage for a parking garage.

So this this schematic this concept doesn't do much to, you know, belong to the urban fabric.

And I think that's um opportunity for improvement uh in this project.

Um, you know, the the lobby space is you as you point out is large, grand.

It looks beautiful as it sits as an object, but its location in the site I think is uh is a missed opportunity.

And I think it better serve both the project and the city is if it was anchored more at the intersections.

Because you know, that part of town is ripe for further free uh future improvement, and so this opportunity for this project to kind of you know make a a statement uh and the corner, establishing this as a real node of uh uh future hub of activity and kind of that corner of the downtown.

Um you do mention that the the Vatello elevation is more of a functional uh utility elevation.

Fair enough.

I I get the needs for architecturally.

Uh however, I don't think that's gone far enough to conduct human scale.

Again, I think what we're what we're coming up short is is anticipation of what this what this block in this intersection in this neighborhood looks like in five or ten years.

And I think that by adding some more scale to that elevation, uh more in uh, you know, pedestrian engagement, I think is helpful um and what benefit the the project is as a whole.

Um one of the things I have my you know questions, I look at the garage spaces, um, you know, w where we live in a quickly changing world, you know.

Uh I I don't have to own a car living here, right?

I can take an Uber, uh I can get someplace with um uh Tabart, I can get the city and take a driverless car.

So has the design team made any looks or the ownership made any efforts to uh uh study, you know, the impact of reducing I think by my quick calculation, unit square footage and garage square footage, it's roughly a two to one.

There's an enormous amount of parking area.

Can that be reduced?

Can that additional square footage be used for other uses in the building or make not change the density but make other uses and make the the building be a bit more um presentable um in terms of uh what it may do to the city.

And I'll I'll ask that you uh respond that in the if you would please um and then um back to Commissioner Newsom's comment about the about Alma Park and relationship.

Um I would see that's a ripe opportunity to make access.

You know, if I live in this building you know to the leash up my dog and kind of walk out of a bridge kind of goes across that that parking area into the park you know I think one that's engaging for me as a resident and I think for then people who live around the park and use the park see that as a um not just a by use but as an expression of a welcome out to the building.

Hey we're neighbor here's our stoop um you know it becomes a a way to kind of ingratiate the building to the park in the community and not have this back turned to it like it like I think it does like we um we think it does um at that point I hate to interrupt but this portion of the meeting is for questions.

Okay.

And then we'll have comments.

Okay.

Um thank you.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um I have a question in the in the same vein.

Um was it considered to create a connection to Alma Park and then it couldn't happen because of the parking or something.

I'm just curious if it was ever part of the design.

I it was um I think where we ultimately land is because of the grade difference and this the amount of soil that we've got to retain I think the the current thinking right now is that the shoring would be mostly kind of restrictive of any type of connection.

But again we can we can analyze it we can study it.

I think those are good comments and questions.

And I think it might be slide 12 but I'm not certain it's a rendering that shows the Batelho um facade.

So I had a question about oh wasn't was it it wasn't 12 shoot sorry um it shows the space between the proposed fairfield building and the ex yeah that one so on the left of the screen that kind of green passageway.

What's the planned treatment for there?

Uh so right now I think it would be the similar um approach as what we would do with the garage exterior um for um kind of what Ed had described whether it's uh uh vines or some type of landscape treatment um the the green that you see is actually property of Ivy Hill and so it would be off of our our subject property and so not necessarily anything that we could um kind of come in and and do ourselves um but again the wall treatment is something that we would explore.

Well how wide is that space?

Yeah so it ranges uh at the at the kind of narrowest condition it ranges I think about 20 to 24 feet um and then as the building uh steps back at the upper floors above the podium it's about 30 ish so it could be usable.

Yeah potentially and what is it right now?

It's just a sloped landscaped edge correct it's graded yeah.

Okay.

But it's wide enough that it's like there's views in it's not gonna become some gnarly creepy alley.

In the in the current condition right now I think there are um risers and stairs that lead up to Alma Park.

Is it there though?

I could I could be confused.

Yeah I'd have to I'd have to double check to confirm um but I I I remember somewhere uh along this kind of edge of Ivy Hill there was um stairs uh for access okay I think that might be further down but I could be curious um and then my other question I realize that you're abiding by the specific plan and it probably calls for it but could we consider and maybe I'm asking my commissioners too if the street tree could be not a crate myrtle and maybe something bigger so it feels a little more in scale with the building because I think when it was like a commercial site that made more sense you could see what was going on but now that it's a larger building so just wonder if that was something the design team would consider potentially.

Yeah I think it's worth considering right like a the platinus having that there or something.

Yep those are my questions.

Thank you.

Um so my question is if there has been a shadow or light study for the park with this building placed here um I didn't see that in the packet, and I know that there is some concern about the light in the park.

So just asking if you have done a study for that.

We have.

Okay.

Yeah.

And so we're working on that um kind of prior to today.

Understanding kind of what is the most shadiest condition um in the winter, and I could probably jump to the diagram.

I think it's at the very end here.

Okay.

And so uh understanding that solstices tend to have the kind of the longer shadows.

So we looked at the summer and we looked at the winter as well.

And so with the the summer solstice, uh June 21st, um, the current condition right now with the existing buildings casts about a 9% shadow on Alma Park.

And that's shown as kind of the the red outline with the dark hatch.

That's the shadow.

So that's the current shadow by the existing.

Correct.

Okay.

Correct.

And then what you see here would be an additional 7% during the summer solstice at 9 a.m.

Um that produces, you know, an additional 7% of shading.

Um, park.

Um, once we get to uh the solar orientation of this site, I think is one thing to consider as well because once we get to 12 p.m.

and 3 p.m., there's no additional shade that's cast on Alma Park.

Right.

Um, and so then uh the next study that we did was winter solstice.

Okay.

Um kind of the kind of the worst case scenario or the longest shadows cast throughout the year.

Again, this is not an average throughout the year.

This is kind of on this one day again.

Um but December 21st, 9 a.m.

Alma Park and its current buildings and the current configuration uh is about 50% shaded.

Uh, with the addition of uh the proposed project, oops, sorry, this portion that's hatched with a diagonal line constitutes but an additional 30% add um on Alma Park.

Uh that starts to taper off pretty dramatically.

So from 9 a.m.

to 10 uh a.m.

So within that one hour duration, it drops from 30% to 22%, and then from 10 a.m.

to 11 a.m.

it drops even more drastically, and we're only about four percent shade before it hits 12 p.m.

where there's no additional shade from our structure.

So if I'm looking at this correctly, the the where it will come into effect or where where that shade would happen would be at the solstice from 9 to 10 a.m.

Is that correct?

Correct, yeah.

Correct, or within that range.

That's right, okay.

So there is so after 12, there is no additional shade from your building.

That's am I reading that correctly?

That's right.

Okay, all right, thank you.

Any further questions?

To what commissioner pressed.

Would you go through the access points of the building one more time?

Would you go back to that?

Absolutely.

Sorry, let me get me one second.

We get all the way to the beginning here.

So this arrow that you see here would be the main kind of lobby entry, elevator entry.

We anticipate that there's still going to be entry points or uh controlled access from the leasing lobby as well.

Um fitness would be uh circulated internally to the building, and so but there is a grade delta between this entry plaza and where we kind of zero out with the retail shared access to the street corner of about five feet, and so there's a substantial uh leveling off that happens here.

Um secondary access point to residential lobby to be able to get up to kind of all levels of residence, and garage happens kind of in this area that's adjacent to then the non-passenger loading, um which would serve for residential move and move out and so forth.

Um garage access for residents would happen here in the first uh kind of red arrow, and so and then circulate internally to level one and two uh retail replacement parking, the 47 that's within the agreement, uh, would be access off of this garage.

Um the arrow here off of Botello would be accessing the um subterranean residential garage.

Residents again once in the garage can access all vertical cores and be able to get to kind of every level of the building.

Yes so part part of the parking issue that you had developing this was you had to replace that parking and the retail for the habit and all those other restaurants, right?

That's correct.

And the residents actually have two accesses then the one on Patello and then also the main one on California.

That's that's correct.

Right.

Okay.

And um you know like in terms of the corner you know Commissioner Prost talked about the corner a bit I mean this building has a lot of corners right so like in terms of how you developed and figured out where the entrances would be how'd you come up with that?

So we do know that I mean from a grading standpoint where the sidewalk ultimately meets the project happens closer to the shared retail access point.

And so we we emphasize that and highlighted that as kind of the main approach.

And we imagine that all leasing opportunity kind of wayfinding happens um kind of within that zone as well.

So for the retail patrons or for the residents and future tenants they would all be coming through that access point.

And so we kind of consolidated and and condensed all of the front door and access points um kind of within that zone.

Make some sense I mean it it's a uh you know it's the strongest elevation and you've said so is is California right I'd say Patello is less so.

I mean I think do you I assume you're meeting the objective design standards in terms of breaking the building up in terms of what's on Patello that's that's correct.

Okay.

Thanks.

I have an additional question based on that um do you have any renderings of the signage for the replacement public parking sort of how are you how's the wayfinding gonna be so that people know that that that's available to them.

Yeah so uh let's see if I have a enlarged landscape plan.

So what we're there is a a it's hard to see here without zooming in but oop oh maybe it's okay.

But the the retail entry for retail patrons um are always coming in here to begin with right there's no access point off of Patello uh for the current retail patrons and so naturally I think everybody understands the come into the shared access agreement.

For residents again I think the project side um the public art feature or sorry the um the art feature the the live oak right this plaza becoming kind of a extension of the interior space and becomes active um I think naturally brings visual um kind of concentration to that corner um to bring everybody in so there's no signage planned signage to let people know that in the back of this building there's public parking uh the signage would happen on building not out are you asking if it's out on the street so uh if someone's driving down the street and they want to go to the habit and they're looking for a place to park there's no way for them to I want to know how they're gonna know that they can drive down that driveway and park there to go to the habit.

Yeah it's a good question.

Um I think I would have to understand I mean the existing condition right now there isn't signage out there that specifically says to enter into that shared access driveway.

Right.

And so uh we can potentially look at that yeah yeah I just it as this building has a I know this is a comment section, but yeah, it just making it clear that I it could be there, I just don't see it.

Yeah yeah, thank you.

I do have one additional question.

There was another waiver uh asked, I'll be followed with the regarding the Alma Park specific plan regarding the hip and cable roofs, and then the letter from the applicant that says that the um you know this roof form can't be done.

Uh and so can you explain to me kind of what's preventing, you know, addressing that or that you know that waiver being asked for, please.

Yeah, Ed McCoy again.

Thanks for the question and thanks for bringing that up because I did want to clarify one thing.

Um regarding waivers versus incentives and concessions.

Um the this particular one is a request for an incentive, a concession, because it it clearly affects our ability to financially make the project feasible, and I'll explain why.

Uh excuse me.

Um if we were to do a hip and gable roof, the height of the building would obviously be taller.

And according to the uh building code, if you exceed 85 feet, you have to go to a type one construction.

So in order to keep the same amount of units, we had to go with a flat roof so that we didn't kick ourselves up into a different construction type that would have made the project infeasible from a financial standpoint because obviously type one construction is much more expensive than a type three construction, which we're proposing here.

Right.

So um this roof, you know, close up would not be visible.

Um, overhang on Eve, uh the roof one would be visible up and down the streets, but is it not possible to do, you know, in front of the parapets, a slope condition where there's a roof material, a tile or something that kind of gave the implication of a roof, you know, that doesn't change the elevation of your actual uh roof assembly.

Good question.

Well we'll take a look at that.

I I don't know the answer to that, but yeah, obviously a parapet's a parapet.

We can make it look like a lot of different things, so yeah, it's a good one to take under consideration.

Thank you.

Any further questions?

Are there any members of the public that would like to make their comments?

Okay.

Could you bring your speaker card up?

Okay.

And you have two minutes.

Okay, thank you.

And thank all of you for serving on this.

I know this is uh a labor of love for you and somebody's got to do it, and thank you.

Um I was on the board there and just by chance I I I left the board in the fall, but I received we were talking about this project coming on, and there was a letter that was sent to the uh the group, and uh it talked about the project that was proposed, and there was a rendering put out uh in October of 26.

Uh I'm I'm sorry, of 25, October 25, which was a lot uh not a lot smaller, but it was um a hundred and twelve units rather than a hundred and seventy-two, and it was five stories rather than seven.

And i it was something, you know, it was versed in by Yimbi Yes in my backyard.

So they were all for it.

They thought it was a beautiful project.

I looked at it and thought, well, it is what it is, things are like this are happening, and we're gonna have to live with it.

But this is completely uh caught me off guard.

Not that I'm the only one interested in this, but I do live there and I look out and now I've got to I've got this, which was big, now going to a lot bigger, and along with that comes a lot more people and a lot more traffic in the area and lots of other stuff.

So I'm just wondering, I know I talked to the I went to this thing last night and I was told that they changed ownership at the end of December.

So the opportunity for someone to come in and increase these sizes and oh, sell in all these places, it all's playing in, but I'm a member of the community and that's not my interest.

My interest is living there, and I plan on doing that.

And also I wanted to say was I just don't know why it went from okay to not okay in my mind.

So whatever that's worth, and I'll fit out the card and thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Anyone else have comments?

Yeah, I mean, neighborhood over in Alma Park, and uh it's very well utilized by a lot of us and most of us bought there because it's the only green space left.

And could you give us your name please?

Oh I'm sorry, Robbie Newton.

Thank you, Rom.

So I think the impact Alma Park really does need to be considered with this as well as the parking impact along Bardello.

I mean it already can get very jammed up.

All the cars can get stacked up even before it hits Bardello along California.

So I think those are two major major concerns.

Also you know you've got what 57,000 square feet and you're building a hundred and twenty-seven units that's a lot that I mean it's just to me it's very over designed and it's really gonna impact the people that are living there now.

So and the design to me looks very commercial inconsistent with the downtown core.

There's no retail the parking that's gonna be for the retail in the back is not going to be utilized.

It's gonna be very difficult to for anybody to park there.

So those are just a few of my comments I I support in field projects but this is really an overkill so thank you.

Can you hear me?

Yes could you tell us your name please?

Yes, thank you.

My name is Ruben Galvan I'm a field representative of the North States Carpor's Union local Wamput 2 which covers uh Conda Costa County I'm jumping in for uh my co-worker who covers this area so I just had limited time to jump into this project uh and do some research I knew it was an SB 330 and I wasn't it I wasn't planning on speaking tonight and normally have something written down so that it looks more professional but um you know due to the fact that um I just learned that uh uh Fairfield Residential is a one stop shop um you know I do want to raise a question and uh I brought it up to Ed McCoy just before the meeting I said I wanna who do I talk to about labor standards and he directed me to uh Mr.

Rob Falkovitz.

So I'll be reaching out by email and the next uh 24 hours or so but my question is would that will there be labor standards on this project strong labor standards meaning protections for the workers that are gonna be doing this construction because SB 330 you know it's streamlined process most likely it's gonna get approved that's that's how that's how SB 330 is so uh you know we want protections for the workers uh fair wages opportunity for apprentices coming from state accredited pr apprenticeship programs uh meaningful labor compliance uh health insurance benefits so they don't have to you know make the decision of going to work or going taking their kids to the doctor um also if there's no strong labor standards it leaves the door w wide open for bad actors I I don't know them to be honest but you know it just opens the door for bad actors who misclassify workers to avoid paying the the the benefits uh my out oh my that's it thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else with comments hi my name's James Wolf.

I live in uh around Alma Park and I I know there's uh I'm a fan of development I'm happy that that we're increasing residential uh uh units in the area.

Um I am concerned about how the building will interface with the city at the street level um particularly traffic there are a lot of children including my child who live uh who live around alma park and who walk that intersection of California and Batello on the way to school at Los Lomas um and I they're looking at the designs there's very little visibility around that corner it's already a very congested intersection um and with the amount of of school children who are gonna walk on their own through that intersection now with what 177 additional units um that creates a lot more risk and opportunity for accidents involving minors in the area so I know that we're not going to stand in the way of development for this project um but as as much as we can ask the developer to study traffic safety and increase traffic safety not just for this project but as a contribution to the community that they're now entering um I think that is a reasonable expectation even if we can't oppose the project under existing state law I think the way it interfaces with the city is within the jurisdiction of the city government and that is something that we should expect them to do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any more public comments okay great come on up.

My name is Robin Wolf.

I own a condominium next door to this building at uh region on the park.

I've been there 20 years and we enjoy the park a great deal walk there daily bought the condo uh primarily because it was on the park.

And this project has facing the park a blank wall and I'm not sure if it's one or two stories tall it's in the drawings that you have we went to City Hall to get the architectural drawings.

So now it will be a walled park at least on one side and the developers asking for the setback to be not 10 feet as required by the Alma Park plan but uh three feet so three feet from the park will be a blank tall wall I think that needs significant mitigation and I'm wondering why there would be consideration of approval of doubling the number of units that would be allowed for this project under the existing plan city plan instead of the 80% 100% increase in this plan instead of the 80% increase stated in the new state law so it seems to me that within that 20% you can if you go back to just what the law requires you could have greater setbacks you won't have the school kids up against a narrow sidewalk the 20 foot sidewalk is greatly reduced they're asking for a waiver as the previous speaker pointed out that's going to make it hard to see around the corner harder for school kids.

It's also a setback from the park that's being considered for a waiver anyway that's that's my concern thank you.

Thank you.

Hello my name is Michael Wolf.

I live around uh Alma Park and uh my concerns for this project is um first of all regarding the uh traffic um many uh as my uh father pointed out earlier that uh many kids cross the uh crosswalks and stuff also uh elderly folks and handicapped folks as well and the increased traff traffic can uh cause a lot of safety hazards um another concern is uh disturbance of uh people living in uh alma park and surrounding those areas um that could uh disrupt uh routines and uh my uh my grandfather actually uh uh sits by the uh habit I think daily and um as my uh grandmother pointed out uh it will uh block uh view and and uh nature tends to bring people uh peace, like uh that uh beautiful view of uh what's called uh Mount Diablo brings me peace and I'm pretty sure it brings many of the folks in here peace as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any further public comments?

Come on up to the microphone.

I was just wondering architectural uh a lead designated project.

It seems like everyone's getting it.

Pardon, that's not our comments, our comments.

I'm now by hereby, sorry, now closing public comment and we'll proceed to commission our comments.

Can we see if the applicant was can respond to that question?

Can the applicant respond to the LEED certification?

Thank you, Madam Chair from the Commission, Ed McCoy again.

Um we don't have an intention to go forward with a certification uh of LEED, however, based on our building codes in California, um most of the things that we have to do based on the codes get us to a very high degree of sustainability within the building.

You know, obviously motion lights, high high efficiency appliances, low flow toilets, um all of the things that um would get you to a lead certification, we put into the building because again, this is California.

Uh so while not a certification, we will be highly sustainable.

We also have a as part of our property management group, we have a living green program.

We provide uh recyclable bins for all of our tenants as well as on-site recycling.

So uh we are a very um sustainable company internally as well, uh, within our office policies as well as our ownership.

So we're very confident that it's gonna be a very well sustainable building.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Commissioner comments.

I got a few.

Um I mean, first off, thanks for coming to Walnut Creek.

Uh we have a real desperate need for housing here.

Um we appreciate that.

I think um, and thanks to members of the community who came.

I know it, I know it's really frustrating.

This is not the first meeting like this that we've had.

We've had a number of these regarding SB 330 and the other state housing laws that you know are kind of forced on to us as blunt objects and it as design review commissioners, it's frustrating for us because there's not much we can impact on these type of projects in terms of density in terms of massing, um, our hands are tied.

So um I don't want you to think we're not hearing you.

It's just you know, we've we've actually had people leave the commission because uh of the frustration.

So, you know, we're gonna do as much good as we can here for you today.

Um, I'll say that.

I mean I'd say that, you know, looking at this, the first thing, you know, I I look I focused on was the objective design review commission, which I was part of developing we put that in place here in Walnut Creek because of these laws is we wanted to have some objective standard that would make sure that we didn't get a box.

And I think I think this design in many ways is sensitive to that that uh objective standard.

I mean, I think there's massing breakdowns.

It doesn't, as you particularly along North along California, it's it's broken down.

It almost seems like it's two buildings.

Um, and I I think I think that's good.

Um I think that uh you know the f I appreciate the applicant's comment about first of all the right to have the number of units they have and and the cost of going to type one.

I I get it.

Um this building is not particularly contextual contextual with the ex you know with the Alma Park properties and so forth.

But I think I mean there this is in terms of the finishes, I mean there's a lot of brick on the buildings, it's broken up.

Um I think it checks a lot of box boxes for me.

I think you know I think the the cal the California frontage, I think is fairly well designed.

It's it's glassy, it's broken down.

I think I think it it's not the issue for me is mostly on on the other frontages.

So like on it's but that's how you pronounce it.

I mean it's it's a two-story parking garage.

And so the first comment I would have would be: can we do something there to break it up more along the lines of what we see?

I I know it's a parking garage, but can we can we get more glass or something in there to to break it up and have it be more of scale?

Um I'd say the Alma Park, I think of course the applicant said went to a meeting last night and said, you know, that they were gonna work to on the Alma Park elevation.

I think and we've heard heard that from at least one or two of the residents there that you know that wall of concrete, something has to be done there to to bring it to scale to to speak to Alma Park.

Um now could that be false windows?

Could it be landscaping, something to soften it, I think would be would be really really good.

Um I think the uh the retail parking clarity, I underscoring um Cricket's comment about that.

I think it's it's gonna be really important.

Um with the loss of that parking.

Right now there's a lot of parking there that's underutilized.

Uh and you know, there's really ultimately for the success of that retail development, that that parking has to be really clear.

So there has to be some better signage.

May not it may the concession might be it might not be appropriate on this property, but you know, should be funded by the project to actually say this is where you park when you go to the habit or the other other things that are there.

Um, I think for me, I mean it's in terms of the accesses.

I think the way it has been designed is it's been designed so that you know the building has actually four or five corners.

I mean, it's been it's been decided that that the best location would be kind of be more or less mid block where there is a corner.

And I think I think it's I think it's clear enough there.

Um yeah, I think those are my comments.

Thanks.

I like to also uh reflect Commissioner Newsom's appreciation for the applicant and water better project walnut creek.

Um, I think it's great.

Um, I certainly appreciate the uh design team's efforts and uh kind of level detail that I'm seeing in the run rings.

Much appreciated.

Um, you know, it just up to the level of quality of the building overall uh in the street face.

Um reflect my comments, you know.

I I do strongly believe that I think that the you know the building needs to do a better job of owning the corner, and I think that based on some of the community uh commons, I think then this is kind of there's a uh let's just call it a double effort here.

We can open that corner up, allow more through seeing uh from corner to corner, uh, and I think make a better uh civic engagement uh between the building and uh and the city.

Um and you know, even though the building heights is uh something we really can't uh do much about, I certainly think there are efforts to um you know work on maybe efforts to maybe include a little more horizontality reviews, some work on cornices, other efforts that kind of bring the scale down.

Uh I think that may help the community uh and the park uh access as well.

I think are all um things I think that I I trust that the applicant will be um you know uh work with the city uh to bring those things to fruition.

So other than the end we have a successful project that has a long-standing poly reputation for the the city as well.

Thank you.

Um all right, so I know this was mentioned already, and you gave valid reasons for it, but I would love to just mention for the planning commission to consider some kind of pedestrian connection to the park, and maybe it's not from the building, maybe it's signed something.

I just want to say that out loud.

Um I also love the idea of larger street trees.

Um on the plant palette.

I've said this before, the Fox Telegave is beautiful.

It gets this weird neck, so just make sure it's not like right near the sidewalk.

Um the mention of the corner resonated with me, and then hearing from the community that that's a popular access point for school makes me wonder if instead of and instead of we do an and because I actually like the lobby corner, kind of near the retail being a frequenter of yogurt land.

I was like, I totally sit under that oak tree there, but I think it might be nice to have some version on the other side too.

If we're hearing that that's a really active corner, um, but it may mean re-looking at that fitness bit.

Um, I like the idea of cascading vines to help with that wall.

The interface of an alma feels a little back of house.

Um I do think retail parking signage would be helpful.

I go to the Walnut Creek TOD often and they're starting to get retail, and I think people are learning that you park in parking garages when you're going to retail, even if it's mixed family.

So I think that's you know, something we should think of, but not the end of the world.

Um that's it.

Thank you.

So again, things that have already have been said, um, just signage for the parking.

I totally agree with Commissioner Case on larger trees, and you even have some in your plant palette that you could switch out, like the sycamore or something like that.

Make great street trees.

Uh I know this is maybe I don't know how this fits in, but um the exploration of maybe a crossing guard for that corner.

I know that financing for crossing guards are usually split between the city and the school itself, but if there's some way that the planning commission, I don't know if that falls within the planning commission, but it could be helpful if there is some exploration of getting a crossing guard on that corner.

So that's all I have to say, thank you all.

Um, I echo all of those comments, larger street trees and also some sort of I don't know if it's a slight setback on the corner glass on that corner uh where you have the busy intersection with the kids crossing the street, just something to to give a little bit more of a sight line there would be great.

Um I also had a question about the colors.

The colors in some of the renderings look a lot warmer than the than the actual um samples that we have here, so I just wanted to ask about that.

If these are in fact the colors, and um I I would comment that warmer is better um with the surroundings and and the and the existing um, you know, walnut creek as it as it sort of is tends towards the warm rather than the cool urban.

But that's my comment.

Um see here.

I also wanted to ask staff.

Um the the comment that we heard from one of the one of the members of the public about the law with the 80%, but they're getting a hundred percent.

Can you please explain that for everybody again as far as their bone their bone their density bonus?

I I can staff uh and excuse me, staff will explain, please.

So this is directly from the staff report is on page seven because they're providing two separate density bonuses.

Uh both uh one was thirteen percent very low, and the other was 13% moderate income.

That's 15% for both.

And combined uh they get a 50% each.

So each one gets a 50% bonus.

So they're providing two separate ones, so they get a hundred percent bonus.

And we have very verified this with our uh city attorney.

Okay, thank you.

I hope that helps you also you understand where that came from.

That just to be clear, it's two two different affordability levels.

Okay, and let's see here.

I think that's it from me.

Thank you very much for coming.

I appreciate it.

I I think I've made a list.

Um let's see.

Okay, and I'm getting there.

Let me round this out.

Um corner, corner, corner, make sure I capture this correctly.

So it sounded to me as if wayfinding signage was um supported by at least three.

Okay.

So um we'll look at we'll look at um a uh sub a recommendation for more wayfinding signage, specifically for not just for that building, but also for the retail section.

Um there was a mention to uh preserve the the gable roof that's required in the specific plan, and there might be a way to foul our way through that.

Um that was a suggestion.

Um, is there any any support for that?

Show of hands.

Um seeing none, okay.

Um the corner, um, and engage the corner.

Not quite sure what the recommendation or the direction is there, but I also heard a setback at a corner, a greater setback.

Did is that was that what you were?

I was just looking at that corner as far as um visibility for for kids and others that are um that are crossing the street is in that that's a really busy retail set section of town.

So I was thinking since they have clear glass on the corner, maybe they take an angle off of it so that there's a little bit more of a through sight line there.

That was just a suggestion.

Okay, so the could the concern is is safety sight lines.

Okay, okay, great.

Thank you.

Um, but there is also a uh a m m a move to engage the corner.

Okay, so that'd be further development of that corner, yeah.

Okay.

Got it, okay.

Okay.

Um let's see.

Uh look at the street trees.

Um, look for bigger trees instead of the crepe myrtles.

Okay.

I will say that the public works department does have a schedule for screet trees.

Um, and it's I don't know if it's a big pick from the menu.

I think it's more specific than that, um, and that they've there is a plan.

Um, and I'm assuming that they're that that would include Botello as well, but we will make sure that we look at that.

And and if not, they might they likely have a bigger tree.

Yeah.

And I I think that's valid.

I just think it's a change in use, right?

Because it's not a general commercial anymore.

Now it's a high density residential.

So maybe there's reason to be like, doesn't need to be a crate myrtle anymore.

Okay.

Uh let's see.

Um, and then also address the big wall at Alma Park.

Um, and it sounds as if the applicant's already aware of that and they're working on that, so we'd like to see that the planning commission level.

It sounded as if there was um landscaping was was uh a good method, a good solution, but there's also potentially some foul architectural treatments, maybe both.

Yeah, okay.

Yeah, and I think also uh pedestrian access to the park in the building.

Yeah, and that's the there was a p I got pedestrian access from the park or to the park from that new development.

Study that or address it or say why you can't do it.

Okay, right.

Yep.

Okay.

Um let's see, there's access.

Okay, I think that's all I have.

Is there did I miss anything?

Okay.

Oh, um, and also with colors.

Rectify the colors.

Um, warmer would be better.

Yeah, just clarifying that what is shown in some in some of the prints is a little bit warmer, and the discussion was uh browns and and there's a lot of gray there.

I just wanted you to take a look at that in the context of Walnut Creek.

And Mount Diablo.

I I think that would be uh supported.

Yeah, great.

Okay, wayfinding um engage the corner, look at uh larger trees, um address the the wall in Almo Park, fix the colors, rectify the colors, and um um address address uh access from the new development to Alma Park.

Okay.

I think we've got a list.

We have a recommendation, all right.

Thank you.

I don't know, it's very anticlimatic.

That's it.

We don't vote or anything.

Sorry.

Thank you.

Um are there any commissioner considerations that anyone wants to bring up?

I will not be available on the 25th for the general plan update.

I'm kind of curious I'm gonna wanna hear about it.

So somebody's gonna have to tell me what's happening.

Okay, I'm sure.

What what meeting is that?

Thank you.

The joint meeting that we have.

Okay.

Yeah, okay.

I think I've got your note on that.

Yeah, or if there's a recording, something because I just am curious about that.

Well we'll give you a report.

Perfect.

And um are there any commission member reports or staff announcements?

Uh I have one announcement.

Um I don't know if you've met Maley Sheehan yet.

Hello.

Have we?

Hello.

Maybe it's our new uh um what are you?

Assistant direct assistant director?

Yeah, whatever Chip is.

Assistant community development director, and she's doing a great job.

Um and um she will be taking this she'll be acting as a secretary to the planning commission.

Um that said, um Thank you.

Thanks, Chip.

Well, Chip is talking about me, but I am standing here to talk a little bit about Chip.

Um so if you weren't already aware, Chip's last this is his last DRC meeting because he is retiring.

I don't know if he's been keeping that to his chest or not.

But so I know.

Yes, I know for what, the last 15 years, you've been a dedicated member of the city of Walnut Creek.

And in my very short time here, I started in the beginning of May.

Chip has been nothing but welcoming and an amazing resource for me, um, really helping me get my feet um here.

Um he is knowledgeable, he's professional, he is efficient, he's funny, which is really nice.

It's lovely to have a funny co-worker.

Um is really no surprise that his team respects him so much, they really adore him, and you will be very missed.

Um it is impossible to replace somebody like Chip who has put so much heart and dedication into this community, and of course, with all the work that he's done with you guys.

So I just wanted to make sure that I put into the formal DRC record some recognition for Chip and say thank you on behalf of uh CDD.

I miss you.

Congratulations.

Um thank you, Maley.

Um, it's fifteen years has been the best professional years of my life, and I I I love the city.

I've enjoyed working with the commission, specifically the design review commission.

It's been very good.

It's a very worthwhile commission.

Your work is so much appreciated.

Thank you.

So is yours, thank you.

So is yours.

We miss you very much.

Yes, we will.

And who do we get in your place?

And and I was gonna lead to that, uh that said, I believe uh Simmer Gill will take over the role of secretary to the design review commission.

Big shoes to fill, but I'm definitely gonna try hard.

And again, I'm gonna miss Chip a lot as well.

Um, but I'm very excited to be able to work alongside all of you.

And I have a lot of respect for the work that you do, and um, it's it's a hard job, but you guys do a great job here.

Thanks.

Thank you, guys.

Okay, then we're adjourned.

All right.