by Tony Hicks – The pandemic may soon affect plans for how Walnut Creek will look in the not-too-distant future.
Toyota Walnut Creek wants the city to rezone more than 6 acres the company owns in the north downtown area for hotel and residential development and related uses.
A third of the city’s sales tax revenue comes from auto sales, which will likely change as more people buy cars online, something that has increased during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the value of land within walking distance of BART only increases as California struggles to provide enough housing and cities look to raise density. While Walnut Creek currently meets state housing goals, required numbers are expected to increase significantly after 2022, according to a city report.
The City Council will get its first official look at Toyota’s idea during the council’s regular virtual meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Stephen Scanlon of REAL Development, who is the applicant and represents Toyota, is asking the city whether it would consider the idea, before moving forward with a request to rezone 10 parcels on which the city now mainly allows auto-related business.
The site fronts both sides of North Broadway on the east side of North Main Street, north of Ygnacio Valley Road and south of Pine Street. The Toyota dealership at 2100 North Broadway would remain, though adjacent parcels would be affected.
Toyota hasn’t submitted any studies or plans for the project. The city report says the proposed zoning amendment “envisions 600 residential units over auto serving uses.”
City staff is recommending the council provide feedback to the applicant and establish a committee to provide further guidance. The next step would be formal applications, design review, and negotiating a development agreement to address phasing and community benefits. The city would also need to evaluate environmental impacts.
To livestream the meeting, go to https://www.walnut-creek.org/government/public-meeting-agendas-and-videos.
I guess selling Toyota land is more profitable than selling Toyota cars.
Can’t blame Toyota they know WC counsel will approve anything which will generate a penny of tax revenue…open space be damned
So, spend three years and a fair amount of money on “public engagement” and outreach, take citizen input & come up with a North Downtown Specific Plan… and then propose ignoring the whole thing because a developer wants special treatment? The WC council has its long history of bending over for development over residents. Looks like that continues.
I don’t know the back story here. But it does seem like the whole auto area of Walnut Creek is kinda weird and could be a lot better.
So this would be the” 6 pounds of poop in a 3 pound sack, as long as there’s a profit” mentality. right ?
Walnut Creek’s red light district was on Pine Street way back when. The DMV was there too. The old town sure has changed.
POST DELETED
Please Note: Users who use multiple names will be deleted. Please choose one name so others can easily chat with you
… unfortunately not surprising… more high rise high density housing even though the resident voters voted “no” to that years ago.. the mayor pro-tem governance structure in WC lends itself to self approvals ignoring residents direction.
Are you going to house the homeless there also Newsome and Biden-Harris? So many people who want to work are having issues finding work people are having issues making rent now let alone in high priced areas.
There is already to much traffic downtown and this will only make it worse. No one wants to ride BART as it is a mobile homeless toilet that the rest of us unfortunate souls have to tolerate. These proposed transit centers are for the birds.
Just one more way to try to control the population. That is why those of us with brains are fleeing the cities and crime and lawlessness.
Do some research into the Toyota logo…
I wonder if Toyota will design the parking garage to only fit smaller cars? Like Toyotas
While WC does need housing, it’ll be another round of apartments or condos no average joe can afford.