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Record of Proceedings

Design Review Commission Study Session, October 21, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, October 21, 2026
BodyWalnut Creek, California
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, October 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:00:01

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

1:03

Welcome.

1:05

The design review commission meeting is now called to order.

1:10

It um our meeting for Wednesday, September 16th.

1:15

We have a regular meeting this evening.

1:17

If you wish to address the commission, please fill out a speaker's card.

1:22

And when invited to come up, bring your card to the commission secretary if you haven't already done

Unassigned speaker

1:27

it

Speaker 1

1:28

and state your name clearly and where you live and who you represent when you get up to the microphone, please.

1:35

The purpose of a public hearing is to supply the design review commission with information it cannot otherwise obtain.

1:42

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

1:50

And in order to facilitate an efficient meeting, please avoid repeating previous testimony and observe the time limits.

1:59

So again, welcome and roll call.

Speaker 2

2:04

Yes, of course.

2:05

Commissioner Newsom.

Speaker 3

2:06

Here.

Speaker 2

2:07

Commissioner Prose.

Speaker 3

2:08

Here.

Speaker 2

2:09

Commissioner Case informed me that she would not be able to attend this evening.

2:13

Vice Chair Riley here and Chair Basting.

Speaker 1

2:16

Here.

Speaker 2

2:18

Are there any items on consent calendar?

Speaker 1

2:21

There are not.

2:22

Okay.

2:24

Um if anyone would like to speak on something other than one of the items on the agenda, please come up.

2:33

Anybody here?

2:35

Okay, so no public communications.

2:38

Were there any ex parte communications among the

Speaker 4

2:41

commission?

2:42

Thank

Unassigned speaker

2:42

you.

Speaker 1

2:45

All right.

2:46

So we will now start with the study sessions.

2:51

Um staff will make a presentation.

Speaker 4

3:24

Getting started with the project location, the site is a 3.10 acre uh site developed with an existing two-story building located at 1350 Montego Way with frontages along Montego and Ignacio Valley Road.

Unassigned speaker

3:38

The

Speaker 4

3:38

site is zoned plan development PD eight eight eight, and the existing building is occupied by office uses and surrounded by other offices, residential and senior facilities in the area.

3:53

Just some context on the existing site, some photos of the existing building, moving into the proposed project and applications.

4:06

The project scope includes demolishing the existing building, constructing a new three-story building with new trash enclosure, parking, landscaping, and tree planting, and some tree removals as well.

4:19

And the site would be operated as a hundred unit residential care facility or RCFE.

4:26

As proposed, the project requires a design review and tree removal application.

4:31

The applicant has also requested processing under density bonus, which allows them to request waivers from various development standards.

4:43

So just a brief overview of the entitlement path for the project.

4:47

The project is before the DRC tonight as a study session to review the design review application and building site changes and requested tree removals.

4:58

Since the project is considered a major project, it will then, if it receives a after getting input from the DRC and a recommendation to the Planning Commission, it will be reviewed by the Planning Commission for a final decision at a future date.

5:17

Quick overview of the proposed operations for the RCFE.

5:22

The IV will operate a 70 assisted living unit and 30 memory care unit RCFE.

5:29

Residents would be age restricted to 55 years and up, and the facility will provide 24 hour care with services including daily living assistance, meals, and recreational activities.

Unassigned speaker

5:46

Here

Speaker 4

5:47

are the proposed elevations for the building.

5:49

As you can see, the building includes various projections and varied heights that provide modulation and articulation and alignment with our design review standards.

6:00

The south elevation at the top of the building or the top of the screen would act as the entry for the facility and includes a covered portico share for resident pickup and drop-offs.

6:18

Here are the two other elevations for the building sites.

6:27

This is the proposed layout for the site.

6:30

The new building is proposed in the same general location as the existing building, and the building includes a large central courtyard area that would be used by residents.

6:42

Just showing that courtyard area on the screen highlighted in red.

6:48

Moving into parking and access, the project includes two parking areas accessed by two separate individual driveways along Montego Way.

6:59

The main driveway called out on the screen provides access to the front of the building.

7:04

The driveway provides access, the second driveway, sorry, provides access to service areas and the proposed trash enclosure for the site.

7:14

Into the required parking, 54 spaces are required for the proposed use, and the proposal includes 82 spaces more than complying with the minimum requirement.

7:29

Here's the proposed trash enclosure location called out.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Architectural Design Review█████████████████████████████████████████████62%
Tree Management█████████12%
Public Engagement█████7%
Housing Development Considerations████6%
Procedural████5%
Lighting████5%
Traffic Management██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Design Review Commission Study Session - October 21, 2026

DISCREPANCY NOTICE: The provided agenda for this date indicates the meeting was cancelled. The provided raw transcript contains proceedings from the Design Review Commission. The summary below synthesizes these materials, using the specified meeting date. The meeting was a study session for two proposed 100-unit Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) seeking approvals under the state Density Bonus Law.

Study Session: 1350 Montego Way (O&I Development / Oakmont Management Group)

  • Application: Demolition of an existing two-story office building and construction of a three-story, 100-unit RCFE (70 assisted living, 30 memory care). The applicant requested density bonus waivers for building height, bike parking requirements, and a standard restricting trash enclosure locations.
  • Project Details: The site is 3.10 acres. 82 parking spaces are proposed (54 required). The building height is 40 feet 9 inches. The plan removes 44 trees and plants 217 trees. The applicant stated they would work with the city arborist to update the tree report and explore preserving more mature trees.
  • Commission Feedback: Commissioner Prose requested heightened modulation and color contrast to break up the building mass. Commissioner Newsom asked for more attention to the east elevation along Ignacio Valley Road and suggested exploring relocation of the trash enclosure. Vice Chair Riley and Chair Basting emphasized aggressive screening requirements for the trash enclosure and all utility equipment, strongly recommending the preservation of existing mature trees for screening.
  • Public Comment: Joe Perez (resident of 1362 Montego Way) expressed concern about the removal of mature Diodor cedar trees that screen his backyard and potential light trespass. He stated, "the third floor kills my backyard." The applicant responded by committing to review tree preservation near his property and stated the project will use downlit fixtures to avoid light trespass, pending traffic department feedback on required lighting.

Study Session: 1220 Rossmoor Parkway (Harvard South Bay Partners)

  • Application: Demolition of an existing single-story building and construction of a two-story, 100-unit RCFE (76 assisted living, 24 memory care). The applicant requested density bonus waivers for building height, required public outdoor access, parking maximums, and window recess standards.
  • Project Details: The site is 4.4 acres zoned PD 930. The building exceeds the 30-foot height limit by a maximum of 3.5 feet due to the 17-foot grade change across the site. The plan removes 65 trees (including one highly protected tree) and plants 73 trees. The architect stated the design was inspired by the existing 1960s mid-century modern office building to give the facility a "residential feel."
  • Commission Feedback: The provided transcript concludes during the applicant presentation; commission discussion for this item is not fully captured in the source material.

Key Outcomes

  • Both items were conducted as study sessions. No formal votes or final decisions were made by the Design Review Commission.
  • Both projects will proceed to the Planning Commission for final hearings at future dates, incorporating the design feedback and recommendations from the Design Review Commission.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome. The design review commission meeting is now called to order. It um our meeting for Wednesday, September 16th. We have a regular meeting this evening. If you wish to address the commission, please fill out a speaker's card. And when invited to come up, bring your card to the commission secretary if you haven't already done it and state your name clearly and where you live and who you represent when you get up to the microphone, please. The purpose of a public hearing is to supply the design review commission with information it cannot otherwise obtain. Therefore, please limit your testimony to factual information that will assist in the decision making process for the topic at hand. And in order to facilitate an efficient meeting, please avoid repeating previous testimony and observe the time limits. So again, welcome and roll call. Yes, of course. Commissioner Newsom. Here. Commissioner Prose. Here. Commissioner Case informed me that she would not be able to attend this evening. Vice Chair Riley here and Chair Basting. Here. Are there any items on consent calendar? There are not. Okay. Um if anyone would like to speak on something other than one of the items on the agenda, please come up. Anybody here? Okay, so no public communications. Were there any ex parte communications among the commission? Thank you. All right. So we will now start with the study sessions. Um staff will make a presentation. Getting started with the project location, the site is a 3.10 acre uh site developed with an existing two-story building located at 1350 Montego Way with frontages along Montego and Ignacio Valley Road. The site is zoned plan development PD eight eight eight, and the existing building is occupied by office uses and surrounded by other offices, residential and senior facilities in the area. Just some context on the existing site, some photos of the existing building, moving into the proposed project and applications. The project scope includes demolishing the existing building, constructing a new three-story building with new trash enclosure, parking, landscaping, and tree planting, and some tree removals as well. And the site would be operated as a hundred unit residential care facility or RCFE. As proposed, the project requires a design review and tree removal application. The applicant has also requested processing under density bonus, which allows them to request waivers from various development standards. So just a brief overview of the entitlement path for the project. The project is before the DRC tonight as a study session to review the design review application and building site changes and requested tree removals. Since the project is considered a major project, it will then, if it receives a after getting input from the DRC and a recommendation to the Planning Commission, it will be reviewed by the Planning Commission for a final decision at a future date. Quick overview of the proposed operations for the RCFE. The IV will operate a 70 assisted living unit and 30 memory care unit RCFE. Residents would be age restricted to 55 years and up, and the facility will provide 24 hour care with services including daily living assistance, meals, and recreational activities. Here are the proposed elevations for the building. As you can see, the building includes various projections and varied heights that provide modulation and articulation and alignment with our design review standards.

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