Walnut Creek Planning Commission Meeting and Joint Study Session - July 23, 2026

Note: The official agenda for the July 23, 2026 Planning Commission regular meeting stated it was cancelled due to no business. However, the meeting transcript shows that a regular Planning Commission meeting and a separate joint commission study session on the General Plan 2050 update both took place on this date. This summary reflects the proceedings as captured in the transcript, noting the discrepancy.

The meeting began with a regular Planning Commission meeting, followed by a joint study session bringing together the Planning Commission, Design Review Commission, Transportation Commission, Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission, and Arts Commission. The regular meeting primarily addressed a conditional use permit (CUP) for an architectural firm, while the joint session focused on the kickoff of the General Plan 2050 update.

Consent Calendar

• No consent calendar items were presented.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made on items not on the agenda during the regular meeting. No speakers signed up for the public hearing on the CUP item.

Discussion Items

• Conditional Use Permit (CUP) Y26061 – YC+D Architecture, 1402 Newell Avenue: Senior Planner Jessica Gonzalez presented a request from YC+D Architecture, an existing Walnut Creek firm, to occupy a ground-floor tenant space in a central retail zone. A CUP is required for office use on the ground floor in that zone. The project involved interior tenant improvements only, with no exterior changes. Staff found the site not suitable for retail due to lack of visibility and main entrances not facing Newell Avenue, and found the proposed office use compatible with surrounding offices. The previous medical office use had a higher parking requirement; the change to professional office reduced required parking, and no additional parking was triggered. Applicant Yen Chen, owner and principal architect, and Dara Duragi, partner, described their firm's growth from a home office to a co-working space in Broadway Plaza, and their need for larger space. Parking agreements with Broadway Plaza and an adjacent lot were already in place. Commissioners asked questions about the history of the building and the specific plan area. Public hearing was opened and closed with no public testimony. Commissioners expressed support, noting the site is not good for retail and praising the firm's local presence.
• Joint Commission Study Session on General Plan 2050 Update: The second part of the evening was a joint session of multiple city commissions. Staff from the Community Development Department and consultant Alta Planning and Design presented the overview of the General Plan 2050 update process, which will guide Walnut Creek's growth through 2050. Project manager Crystal DeCastro and Eric Yerkovich from Alta described the required elements (land use, transportation, open space, etc.) and optional topics (economic development, arts, healthy communities). They outlined a five-phase process: existing conditions/visioning (summer/fall 2026), land use and mobility alternatives (2027), policy review (2028), draft plan/Environmental Impact Report (2029), and adoption (summer 2029). Consultant Tiffany Ng presented the community engagement strategy, including informational forums, community partner meetings, focus groups, workshops, online questionnaires, pop-up events, and a virtual open house. The timeline includes a city council study session on July 21, 2026, and ongoing public outreach. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the commission involvement schedule. No formal action was taken.

Key Outcomes

• Conditional Use Permit Approval: The Planning Commission unanimously approved Resolution for CUP Y26061 allowing YC+D Architecture to operate a professional office at 1402 Newell Avenue. The vote was 5-0 (Commissioner Moran absent, Commissioner Needing absent; present: Andersson, Khaund, Strongman, Kwok, Klopp).
• General Plan 2050 Update: The joint study session was informational. No decisions were made. The process will continue with a city council study session on July 21, 2026, and a series of community engagement activities throughout the summer and fall.
• Commissioner Reports: Vice Chair Klopp reported attending a TransPAC meeting that morning, where the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) discussed the expiration of Measure J in 2034 and the planning for a successor measure. Commissioner Kwok thanked staff for the joint commission meeting for the General Plan update.
• Staff Announcements: Staff announced upcoming General Plan 2050 community pop-up events in August and September 2026, including at Locust Street Festival, Broadway Plaza's Once Upon a Time Fair, and Shadelands Farmers Market. The website walnutcreek2050.com was launched. The next Planning Commission meeting scheduled for August 13, 2026 will have trending projects on the agenda.