Walnut Creek has rejected a proposed moratorium on the conversion of commercially zoned properties for residential uses through the city’s conditional use permit process. A majority of the City Council at its March 17, 2015, meeting agreed with BIA|Bay Area representatives, who argued that the land-use conversion policy did not — as legally required — pose an “imminent threat to the public health, safety and welfare.” Click here to read BIA General Counsel Paul Campos’ letter to Walnut Creek. Although the City Council stepped away from the moratorium, councilmembers directed staff to proceed with the necessary analysis to remove the 26-year-old CUP provision from the city’s General Plan. The change would require developers seeking approvals for residential uses on commercially zoned property to secure a favorable vote of the City Council through a General Plan amendment while CUPs require only Planning Commission approval. For questions or additional information, contact BIA East Bay Governmental Affairs Executive Director Lisa Vorderbrueggen at 925-348-1956 or lvorderbrueggen@biabayarea.org.
