HAPPY UPDATE!
We're very happy to report that the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a drive-thru (any drive-thru) was denied!
The decision came at 2 AM (!) early Friday morning (the meeting started at 7 pm on Thursday) after many comments of opposition from neighbors and local businesses.
We want to sincerely thank the Walnut Creek Design Review and Planning Commission members for listening to our neighbor's concerns and spending the necessary time it took to come to an informed and thoughtful decision. These commissioners are volunteers too and we so appreciate how seriously they took their responsibilities.
We really really also need to thank the many neighbors and especially the existing local businesses who took time from their busy lives to lend their voices to this effort over the past many months. A drive-thru at this location would have negatively impacted not only our quality of life, but also had an devastating impact on businesses on Auto Center Drive, and the first block of 2nd Ave.
Assuming Hall Equities doesn't win an appeal of this decision to the city council, it appears that no drive-thru will be allowed on this site.
Yay! Yay! Yay!
We sincerely hope that Amy's finds another suitable location for their drive-thru somewhere that is already zoned for this use. And of course, an Amy's sit down/walk up restaurant, like Gott's in downtown Walnut Creek, would be more than welcome by the neighbors of Larkey Park.
The planning commission did approve the application to modify the property for more Masses parking, to add a Sherwin Williams store, and for finally clearing the unsightly buildings (and a few existing trees sadly) on the lot that Amy's was to occupy. Let's hope that Hall actually begins that lot preparation soon because everyone agrees those abandoned buildings are an eyesore.
Please know that we'll be following closely the developments on this property -- as well as other issues that impact the Larkey Park neighborhood.
If you have any comments or want to reach out email us using the
Thank you for being such passionate advocates for this wonderful community!