Planning commission approves Taco Bell drive-through at Rossmore Shopping Center with midnight closing

The Walnut Creek Planning Commission on July 10 approved conditional use permits and design review for a new Taco Bell with a drive-through at 1960 Tice Valley Boulevard in the Rossmore Shopping Center, voting 7–0 to adopt the draft resolution with a condition that the restaurant and the drive-up/takeout window close at midnight daily.

City staff presented the proposal as a 1,495-square-foot eating and drinking establishment with a drive-through on a 12.4-acre shopping-center parcel. The plan retains required parking for the center after removing 35 stalls (from 537 to 502 stalls), meeting the zoning parking ratio (about 4.2 spaces per 1,000 square feet). Staff said the project preserves two large London plane trees the Design Review Commission recommended keeping; a third London plane tree (labelled Tree 17 in the plans) was found by the city arborist to be in poor health and is proposed for removal and replacement with four new trees.

The proposal includes one internally illuminated wall sign (45 square feet) oriented away from nearby residences toward the Chevron station, four new light poles, new landscaping (more than 5,000 square feet of planting) and a new bioswale for stormwater treatment. Staff identified the project as categorically exempt under CEQA (Cal. Code Regs. tit. 14, §15303; staff also referenced Notice of Determination No. 216-135) and recommended adoption…