Design Review Commission backs Porsche Walnut Creek project with conditions on test drives, lighting and demolition

The Walnut Creek Design Review Commission on Oct. 22 reviewed a proposal for a new three-level Porsche dealership and service center at the corner of Second Avenue and North Main Street and recommended that the Planning Commission advance the project with conditions to limit neighborhood impacts.

Senior Planner Simmer Veil told the commission the applicant, Steven Scanlon representing Porsche Walnut Creek, seeks a planned-development (PD) rezone to allow limited deviations from the city's development standards on floor-area ratio (FAR) and height, and that the project would merge three parcels to construct a new enclosed sales and service building. ‘‘We are here tonight to gather Design Review Commission's feedback on the proposed Porsche dealership and service center,’’ Veil said. "The existing buildings on-site will be demolished for project construction."

Why it matters: The DRC's recommendations will be included in a Planning Commission hearing on design review, signage and tree removals and in a later City Council review of the PD rezone. Neighbors raised traffic, demolition air-quality, light, noise and privacy concerns that the commission asked the applicant and staff to address before the Planning Commission hearing.

Project design and program: Applicant Steven Scanlon and architect James Spence (Gensler) described a modern, vertically integrated dealership that consolidates sales, service and inventory inside one building. Key project numbers presented to the commission included: 3 parcels to be merged; a three-level building with a partial basement; 22 service bays; 49 surface customer/display stalls; approximately 87 stalls in the basement and 76 on a rooftop deck reserved for inventory and employee parking; a ramp to rooftop inventory; and integrated interior car-wash and detail facilities. The…