Design Review Commission reviews Mitchell Townhomes plan; commissioners and neighbors raise traffic, tree and open-space concerns

The Walnut Creek Design Review Commission held an extended study-session review on June 18 of the Mitchell Townhomes proposal, a 422-unit townhome development proposed for the 22-acre Shadelands Executive Park site (application Y24-026). Commissioners did not vote on entitlements; instead they provided design and programmatic feedback and directed staff to forward comments to the Planning Commission as the EIR and entitlement process move forward.

The project and role of the design review commission Senior planner Simmer Gill presented the proposal and said the plan would demolish 11 office buildings to make way for 422 townhouse units arranged in 83 residential buildings across the 22-acre site. Gill said the development would provide 955 parking spaces (111 of them on internal roadways), propose 510 new trees and remove about 457 on-site trees; the city determined that an environmental impact report (EIR) is required to analyze potential impacts.

Gill also told the commission the project is being processed under the Housing Accountability Act and SB 330 (the 'builder's remedy' provisions) and that the developer is proposing 55 units (approximately 13% of the project) as low-income units. Gill said the draft EIR is in preparation and that design review comments would be forwarded to the Planning Commission after the EIR is circulated.

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