Joint Commission Study Session on General Plan 2050 Update – June 25, 2026

Approximately 40 commissioners from the Planning, Design Review, Transportation, Parks Recreation & Open Space, and Arts commissions gathered for a joint study session to begin the General Plan 2050 update. The evening featured presentations from city staff and the consultant team from Alta Planning & Design, followed by roundtable discussions on community vision, critical issues, desired outcomes, and engagement strategies. No formal actions were taken.

Presentation Overview

• City staff (Crystal DeCastro, Erica VanderBruggen) and Alta’s Eric Yerkovich and Tiffany Ng outlined the general plan framework, state requirements, and the project timeline spanning 2026–2029.
• Required elements include land use, transportation, open space, conservation, safety, noise, and housing (the recently adopted housing and safety elements will be carried forward). Optional elements will cover economic development, arts & culture, and healthy communities.
• The five-phase process: 1) existing conditions and visioning (summer/fall 2026), 2) land use and mobility alternatives (summer/fall 2027), 3) policy review and development (winter/spring 2028), 4) draft plan and environmental review (winter/spring 2029), and 5) adoption (summer 2029).
• Community engagement will include four community workshops, a speaker series, topic-specific focus groups, pop-up events at farmers markets and festivals, and an interactive website (walnutcreek2050.com) with surveys and mapping tools.
• A city council meeting is scheduled for July 21, 2026, to gather council feedback.

Commissioner Feedback on Vision, Issues and Outcomes

Commissioners at each table shared perspectives from their respective commissions. Common themes included:

• Character and identity: Walnut Creek’s vibrant downtown, small-town feel, mix of urban and open space, and strong arts scene (Bedford Gallery, Lesher Center) should be preserved. Many expressed concern that new large-scale developments and chain stores could erode the unique, walkable character.
• Critical issues: Mobility and traffic congestion (especially on Ygnacio Valley Road and across Highway 680/24), housing affordability and lack of entry-level homes, parking management, climate resilience (fire risk, heat islands), and the need to retain young families and diverse populations.
• Desired outcomes: Improved connectivity between neighborhoods and downtown (e.g., bridging Walnut Creek and freeway barriers), safer streets for walking and biking (enabling children to travel independently), flexible zoning to accommodate future retail and technology changes (autonomous vehicles, drone delivery), and equitable access to parks, recreation, and arts programs.
• Several commissioners emphasized the need to plan for a changing demographic and to support small local businesses to maintain the city’s distinctive appeal.

Discussion on Community Engagement

When asked how to reach non‑traditional groups and measure success, commissioners offered:

• Target populations: Renters, young families, youth (high school and middle school), seniors, non‑English speakers, immigrants, people with disabilities, and residents in unincorporated areas.
• Outreach methods: Partner with school districts, PTAs, HOAs, apartment complexes, and libraries; use social media (Instagram, TikTok); set up tables at BART stations, farmers markets, and community festivals; mail paper surveys; and embed QR codes at city facilities.
• Success metrics: Track participation by age, race/ethnicity, income, tenure (own vs. rent), and neighborhood location (mapping responses). Commissioners stressed the importance of making participants feel heard and showing how their input shaped the final plan.

Key Outcomes

• No votes or formal recommendations were made; the session was strictly informational.
• Staff and the consultant team will integrate the commissioners’ input into the existing conditions reports and engagement strategy.
• The next milestone is the city council meeting on July 21, 2026, where similar questions will be posed.
• Commissioners were encouraged to stay involved through individual commission meetings and future joint sessions.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:30 PM.