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Record of Proceedings

Walnut Creek Planning Commission Meeting - October 8, 2026

City Council — Thursday, October 8, 2026
BodyWalnut Creek, California
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, October 8, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 56:10

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:18

Good evening and welcome to the October 8th Planning Commission meeting.

0:23

Will the Secretary please take the roll?

Speaker 2

0:25

Yes.

0:25

Commissioner Anderson?

0:26

Here.

0:27

Commissioner Moran?

Speaker 3

0:28

Here.

Speaker 2

0:28

Commissioner Cowd?

0:29

Here.

0:29

Commissioner Strongman.

Speaker 3

0:30

Here.

Speaker 2

0:31

Commissioner Quok?

0:32

Here.

0:32

Vice Chair Cloth.

0:33

Here.

0:33

And Chair Needing.

0:35

Here.

Speaker 1

0:36

Um we actually do have items on the consent calendar, but would the Commission Secretary like to also change the consent calendar?

Speaker 2

0:44

Uh yes, I am recommending that item 4A, the E B MUD maintenance facility upgrades and site improvements be moved to the consent calendar, being that it is a extension request.

Unassigned speaker

0:57

Do

Speaker 4

0:57

you need a motion for that?

0:59

I make a motion that we move that to the consent calendar.

Speaker 1

1:02

Okay, so I was gonna ask if any of the commissioners have any problems with that, but I'm seeing none.

1:07

So great.

1:10

So now we can take a vote on the entire consent calendar, which also includes the adoption of meeting minutes from September 24th.

1:18

Unless someone wants to pull it, but I didn't hear anything.

1:20

So let's vote.

Speaker 5

1:22

I move that we approve the consent calendar.

Speaker 2

1:25

Second.

Unassigned speaker

1:26

Okay.

Speaker 2

1:27

Uh Commissioner Anderson.

1:28

Yes.

1:29

Commissioner Moran?

1:30

Yes.

1:30

Commissioner Cound.

1:31

Yes.

1:32

Commissioner Strongman?

1:33

Yes.

1:33

Commissioner Quok?

1:34

Yes.

1:34

Uh, Vice Chair Claw.

1:36

Yes.

1:37

And Chair Needing.

Speaker 1

1:38

Yes.

1:39

Now on to the public.

1:41

So thank you.

1:42

If there's anyone out there for that item.

1:45

Maybe not.

1:47

Oh, there you go.

1:49

Um, okay.

1:50

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

1:55

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

2:00

And there's also the opportunity right now for items that are not on the agenda but uh in the purview of the planning commission.

2:06

So are there any since we

Unassigned speaker

2:08

have

Speaker 1

2:09

a nice audience out there?

2:11

Are there any comments that are not on at any of the agenda items?

2:16

Seeing none, I will go ahead and start.

2:20

Um item no now we're item 4B, which is Mass's Bar and Grill C UP application Y 2653 location at 1411.

2:34

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Alcoholic Beverage Control█████████████████████████████████████████████55%
Zoning and Planning█████████11%
Architectural Design Review███████9%
Public Safety█████6%
Public Transit████5%
Procedural██3%
Economic Development██3%
Mental Health Awareness██3%
Community Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Walnut Creek Planning Commission Meeting - October 8, 2026

The Walnut Creek Planning Commission met on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber. Chair Pamela Nieting presided. The Commission unanimously approved a consent calendar and held public hearings for two Conditional Use Permits (CUPs).

Consent Calendar

  • The Commission unanimously voted (7-0) to adopt the meeting minutes from September 24, 2026.
  • Item 4a (EBMUD Maintenance Facility): Approved a second two-year extension of the previously approved Design Review (Resolution No. 3149) for upgrades and site improvements at 2658 North Main Street. The extension keeps the approval valid through November 13, 2028. No changes to the approved plans were proposed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Masses Bar & Grill: Saul Tallerico, a 30-year hospitality veteran and former employee of the applicants' family, expressed strong support for the project.
  • Attune Lux Spa: (Discrepancy in record). The official meeting minutes state Aaron Williams provided public comment. However, the meeting transcript records the Chair asking for public speakers and receiving no response before closing the hearing, creating an unresolvable conflict in the record.

Discussion Items

  • Item 4b: Masses Bar & Grill (CUP Y26-053): Staff presented a proposal for a full-service restaurant and bar at 1411 Locust Street, seeking a CUP to serve alcohol until 1:30 AM. Discussion focused on the troubled history of prior tenants at the location and the ABC designation of the area as a "high crime" area, which staff and the Commission debated, noting it is based on calls for service rather than serious crime. Applicants Melissa Barrett and Eric Paden emphasized their family-friendly vision and responsible management history. The Commission discussed and voted to amend the alcohol service start time to 9:00 AM in the resolution to accommodate NFL football.
  • Item 4c: Attune Lux Spa (CUP Y26-073): Staff presented a proposal for a personal service spa at 1700 N. Main Street. Applicant Rob Bacon described the concept as a trauma-informed wellness space integrating massage with mental health awareness without crossing into clinical therapy. The Commission praised the thorough business plan, community outreach, and sensitive enhancement of the existing building's character.

Key Outcomes

  • Adoption of Consent Calendar: Motion by Steven Kwok, seconded by Molly P. Clopp. Unanimously approved (7-0).
  • Approval of Masses Bar & Grill (Resolution No. 4026): Motion by Molly P. Clopp, seconded by Ken Strongman. Unanimously approved (7-0). (Note: Official minute text approves alcohol sales "after 11:00pm", but the agenda featured an Amended Draft Resolution and the transcript confirms the Commission voted to amend the alcohol service start time to 9:00 AM, making the effective CUP hours 9:00 AM to 1:30 AM at 1411 Locust Street, Application Y26-053).
  • Approval of Attune Lux Spa (Resolution No. 4027): Motion by Cherise Khaund, seconded by Ken Strongman. Unanimously approved (7-0). The CUP allows personal service use at 1700 N. Main Street (Application Y26-073).
  • Commission Reports: Vice Chair Clopp reported on the TransPAC meeting. Staff Secretary Meily Sheehan announced the next meeting on October 22 is a joint meeting with the DRC for the General Plan Update Existing Conditions Report.
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 6:56 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the October 8th Planning Commission meeting. Will the Secretary please take the roll? Yes. Commissioner Anderson? Here. Commissioner Moran? Here. Commissioner Cowd? Here. Commissioner Strongman. Here. Commissioner Quok? Here. Vice Chair Cloth. Here. And Chair Needing. Here. Um we actually do have items on the consent calendar, but would the Commission Secretary like to also change the consent calendar? Uh yes, I am recommending that item 4A, the E B MUD maintenance facility upgrades and site improvements be moved to the consent calendar, being that it is a extension request. Do you need a motion for that? I make a motion that we move that to the consent calendar. Okay, so I was gonna ask if any of the commissioners have any problems with that, but I'm seeing none. So great. So now we can take a vote on the entire consent calendar, which also includes the adoption of meeting minutes from September 24th. Unless someone wants to pull it, but I didn't hear anything. So let's vote. I move that we approve the consent calendar. Second. Okay. Uh Commissioner Anderson. Yes. Commissioner Moran? Yes. Commissioner Cound. Yes. Commissioner Strongman? Yes. Commissioner Quok? Yes. Uh, Vice Chair Claw. Yes. And Chair Needing. Yes. Now on to the public. So thank you. If there's anyone out there for that item. Maybe not. Oh, there you go. Um, okay.

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