Welcome to the January 17th design review Commission meeting our first meeting of the year
Mr. Secretary, do you want to do a roll call for us? I can do that Commissioner Killian here Commissioner Valia here
Vice chair curling here chair Newsom. I'm here commissioner case is out of town and unavailable for tonight
And she will be absent, but we have a quorum
Okay, so next time on the agenda
Consent calendar. I understand there's nothing on the consent calendar. Is that correct? There is nothing for the consent calendar. Correct? Excellent
So now we're going to move on to public communications
This portion of the meeting is reserved for comment items not on the agenda under the Brown Act
Commission cannot act on items raised during public communications, but may respond briefly to statements made or questions posed
Are there any public communications today, but you turn in a card
Okay, so let's move along that
Is there are there are there any public communications outside of?
the aquatic center
Looks like no
Okay, great
Item for public hearing. I understand there's no public hearing tonight. There are no public hearings tonight. Okay
We're gonna move over to Commissioner considerations. I understand. There's one which is the new aquatic community center, right?
there's at least one staff will have a couple of announcements following okay
good so let's go ahead with that do we have a presentation good evening chair
Newsome I'm members of the Design Review Commission my name is Janine Cavalli I'm
a senior planner here with the city of Walnut Creek and I'm very excited to be
presenting to you this evening on the new aquatic and community center at
Heather Farm Park that is being proposed I am joined this evening by members of
our consultant team from Nolintam Architects and RRM Design Group and
they will be coming up this evening as well to contribute to the presentation.
So our team has been working on this project for several years. Last fall we
began the design portion of this project and are pleased to present to you the
schematic design presentation package for the combined new facility at Heather
farm. This new facility will be an important asset to the community and your feedback will
be helpful in shaping the future design of the design of the project. Though this project does
not require design review approval, the project team values your feedback and your perspective
and is seeking feedback from individual commissioners this evening on the three
items listed here on the slide, the building architectural style and forms, the design
of the immediately adjacent outdoor spaces, and the access to the facility and connections
between the facility and the adjacent existing features in Heather Farm Park.
So our agenda for this evening is first the presentation.
Again we'll be by myself and other members of our team.
Then we'll take commissioners questions, followed by public comment and then commissioners
feedback and comments.
So the outline of the presentation is that I'll start with an overview.
I know this is the first time that designer view commissioners have seen this project,
so I want to give a little bit of history of how we got to where we are today and some
of the decision points that have been made by council that helped to set the framework
for the design schematic presentation package
before you this evening.
I'll then hand it over to the consultant team
who will go through the key features of the design.
And then I'll close with next steps
before we take your questions and comments.
So again, at a high level, the purpose of the project
is to replace Aging Aquatic Center, the Clark Swim Center,
and the existing community center buildings at Heather Farm Park with one new combined
facility. To locate this new facility at the existing community center site within the park
and to replace three pools with a recreational pool and a 50 meter lap pool. So this slide goes
over the project timeline. First, going a bit back in time with the Your Parks Your Future project
which started with not only facilities at Heather Farm
Park, but other parks as well, the community center
at Civic Park, for example, and the Shadelands Arts Community
Center.
And so we began looking at all of those facilities, which
were identified by council as critical infrastructure that
may be in need of replacement.
We looked at existing recreational and arts
programming, and we did an analysis
of the existing facility as well as what the new facility should accommodate in terms of
programming.
So over the next, and then we, that was from June 2018 to February 2020.
And then from April 2021 to February 2023, we did the conceptual site plan.
And I'll go through those key items that got us through to the conceptual site plan over
the next series of slides.
So we're currently in the design phase of the project,
and we'll be presenting to you tonight
some of the preliminary work within that design phase.
And then that will take us through to April of 2025.
And then construction is anticipated
to be at about two years from May 2025 to July 2027.
So going back a little bit to how we got to where we are today,
The team back in 2021 looked at three different locations for the future facility and where
it could be located within the park.
And we took and evaluated three sites, brought them to key stakeholders and the pros commission
and ultimately city council provided direction in December 2021 to locate the new facility
at the existing community center site.
So this diagram here shows the kind of level of analysis at that time in terms of what
the facility might look like. So we were kind of at a building blocks stage, if you will,
and that really just was to demonstrate that a new facility could be accommodated at any
one of those three locations. So here we're showing at that time what we had accommodated
in terms of footprints for that location. And this slide also demonstrates some of the
benefits of locating the facility at that location. Compared to the three locations,
The site offered the most flexibility in terms of how the site could be the building footprint
and the outdoor spaces could be configured.
It also allows for the existing Clark Community Center to remain open during construction
so that aquatic programming could occur and take place over those two years.
It also maintains the community center outlook over the pond, which was identified among
many of the stakeholders as a very important and valuable asset of the community center
that they wanted to keep.
It also maintains some of the key pedestrian routes
within the park.
And lastly, it is centrally located,
and there are three parking lots which
were identified that could serve the new facility.
So the project team then took those building blocks
and started to refine them, and used
that as a starting point for the creation
of the conceptual site plan, taking into consideration
some of the feedback we received when
and we were looking at those three different locations.
We made a number of adjustments to the configuration
and orientation of the building footprint,
as well as the layout of the two pools.
We also added a significant level of detail
and began to articulate the surrounding outdoor spaces
to create a conceptual site plan for the new facility.
So the conceptual site plan was reviewed
a number of key stakeholders, the pros commission and council and some of the future considerations
that were identified are listed here on the slide.
So in February city council accepted this conceptual site plan, but identified that
there were a number of things that we should be looking at as we develop the plan further
through the design phase.
So things like some of the noise impacts, the ponder refurbishment, pole deck capacity,
and architectural styles and materials to name a few.
So that concludes the sort of brief, very brief overview
of what we've been doing for the last three to four years.
And now I'm gonna hand it over to Jocelyn
of Nolentum Architects.
Oh, yes.
So also one more thing.
Housekeeping, we did receive a public comment this evening.
You should have all received a copy of it
from a representative of the Walnut Creek Aquatic Foundation.
Thanks, Janine.
Jocelyn Lawrence-Barrish from Nolentam Architects.
So as we started this project,
we collected some of those directives that we received
during feedback about the conceptual plan
into these project assumptions you have before you.
So the building was assumed to be one story
between 25 and 27,000 square feet
to include some outbuildings
like the Pool Mechanical Building.
The existing interior community center and aquatics activities needed to be accommodated
within this new joint facility so that the same programming can occur with a view towards
flexibility to future additional programming that could be accommodated.
The two pools that were directed to include include a 50-meter lap pool and a recreational
pool.
A portion of the pond was assumed to be infilled in order to increase the site footprint in
this area and that the all-abilities playground remains in place.
it forms a little bit of a bounded area for where the site project limitations
can occur. So the first step that we took was to talk to the community about what
this center should look and feel like. And to do that we tried to pull some
precedents, tried to pull some precedents from around Walnut Creek and other
projects from around the Bay Area to give folks a chance to look at some
buildings and talk about what they like about them, what would be most
appropriate for this facility in this park, in this city, and talk about some of the various
amenities they might find at their recreational pool, some of the larger moves we knew we
were going to have to decide in this early portion of the design phase.
So we had one large open house event at Heather Farm Community Center.
We had an online survey that mimicked all those same questions, and here are the results
that we gathered.
We had quite a few people respond to that online survey.
And so we've got the images ranked in order of what people responded to most frequently.
And in addition, we had a lot of write-in comments, both at the open house and within
the online survey themselves.
And so we've created a weighted word cloud to highlight the kinds of words that people
were using when they responded to these images.
People really liked the design of the Walnut Creek Library and some of the other local
buildings.
There was a large concern about the look and feel of the architecture being of a piece
with the kinds of architecture that we have in place in Walnut Creek already.
Sort of in contrast to that, but it still makes sense to us that there needs to be a
lightness and modernness to the architecture so that there's a lot of natural light.
The materials are a bit more modern.
We did have a lot of answers saying they like the more traditional actual forms of like
like a gabled roof, and more natural kinds of materials.
Those are the kinds of projects that got the most clicks.
Same is true of we asked specifically about the pool house.
Did it need to be different
than how the community center looked?
We actually had a lot of feedback
that it should be really similar.
The same kinds of natural materials
with some modern detailing,
but more traditional sort of building shapes.
Similar things about,
we asked specifically about building materials,
just so that in case any of those previous photographs,
people might have been drawn to something else
and wanted to make sure.
Was it the wood you liked?
Was it stone and metal?
And so, yes, natural materials were
preferenced with quite a bit of wood
and a mix of some metal and stone as well.
First shade was a high priority at the exterior
and using similar kinds of materials
at the sort of exterior event spaces
that we already knew we would be putting in here.
and similar kinds of answers about the actual materials
for the event terraces and patios that are adjacent.
That the recreational pool can accommodate various ages
was the highest concern and comment
with beach entry being one of the most favored items.
Similar spray water, current channel,
these are all currently part of the design.
And then we took all those comments
and took some of the comments we received
from pros and counsel,
some of our own internal thinking about these spaces
that we'd have initially laid out
and made an amended site plan
that we took to key stakeholder groups.
We had three major groups we worked with.
We did that this last fall,
gave them this early draft of what we thought
this community and aquatic center could look like.
These are the folks we spoke to.
We had folks from the gardens at Heather Farm,
the Audubon Society Bird Alliance folks
who use that nature lake just to the north,
Fly Fishing Club, Chamber of Commerce,
various caterers who could tell us
about whether or not the rentable spaces
were actually working well for the kinds of functions
that they would hold there.
And of course, the very important
Walnut Creek Aquatic Foundation
to talk about how the pools in the pool deck
and the associated building spaces are working for them.
Here's some of the feedback that we heard.
There was a lot of excitement for the project
and a lot of appreciation
for where the floor plan was at so far.
There was concern about the noise and noise activities
in relation to the Nature Lake.
And there was a sequence for how the loading might occur
at the lakeside area that was asked for,
as well as the Aquatic Foundation had a lot of concern
about a number of people that it could be accommodated
on the pool deck for large events,
as well as the configuration and design of the pools.
will continue to have further meetings along those topics. So here are some
guiding principles we used as we created this draft of the design you're going to
look at. We were hoping that this building be a visual asset to the Heather
Farm Park overall. It fit within its surroundings being a building within a
park. That it support all of those existing programs like we discussed with
that flexibility for future program expansion. That specifically those
program spaces be more flexible. Currently a lot of them are programmed to very specific activities.
It's hard for instance to hold classes in the lakeside room, but a truly multi-purpose large
event space could do both. Or within those smaller classrooms have a lot of different
kinds of classes that could be held within them. That the pool sizes, the pool support spaces be
right sized. Currently the Clark Swim Center's spaces that serve it are sometimes poorly
configured and often undersized, so those were corrections that we were
making, and that the views across the pond be preserved from those major event
spaces. Those were sort of bounding corners for how we wanted to configure
the floor plan. I'm gonna pass this on to Janet. Good evening everyone, I'm Janet
Tam, principal at Nolan Tam Architects. We've made a lot of progress since we
began the master planning project through concept design, and this is a very
opportunity moment to be here to present to you because we welcome your design
input. We are about to end schematic design and on the threshold of design
development. And so you can see here what we want to present tonight. First our
building floor plans, which I will go into some detail, then RRM, our landscape
architect will talk about the site features and site plans, and then another
one of our team, Ned, will talk about the perspectives to give you a better idea
idea at a eye level.
So I wanted to introduce the two schemes.
I know from your package staff report
that you realize that we have been entertaining two schemes.
However, as we talk about them, I
hold in your mind that they're very, very similar in floor
plan and in siting.
However, I start with these two bird's eye views,
because one of the main differences between the two
schemes is the roof massing.
So let me just orient you to this view.
You can see Mount Diablo in the background.
This is the west elevation of the building facing the pond.
You can see the new pathway along the edge.
Let me test out this.
Along the edge of the pond, which is being reconstructed.
And this is the new lake side room on the north side
of the building.
And then on the south side is what we are calling the atrium.
And you can see the pools and the pool house
on the further south side.
Now this is scheme A. And we call
scheme A the gable design, because you'll
Notice that there are two volumes that are gable-shaped.
And these represent, as I just mentioned,
our entry atrium on the right and our lake side
rim on the right.
Scheme B, which I'll flip to that one.
It would be multitasking here.
We are calling this the folding plane design scheme
because the massing of the roof forms, as you see,
are sloping and more varied.
And the difference here is that this scheme
has a more complex roofing system.
And Ned is going to explain more about that
when we get to the massing.
And you'll notice that if I toggle back and forth,
the lakeside rim is very similar in both options, the volume.
However, the volume on the right-hand side,
where the atrium is tucked under here,
is more of a roof that extends into a single roof.
So more to follow on that.
So now I'll toggle one more time,
because it's kind of fun to look at both together.
And then you'll see again, A and B.
Now I'd like to focus on the floor plans.
But I should also, well, let me focus on the floor plans.
What I'd like to do, this is floor plan A,
And we did this because our cost estimates
are going to be determined.
But Scheme B is, I want to start with Scheme B
because it's a little simpler to explain Scheme B.
And it's sort of how we evolve the project.
We went from the concept plan, which you saw in your package,
and in the slide show.
And we went to a rectilinear scheme first.
But both options have the same program.
They both have the same adjacencies.
This building footprint is 23,400 square feet.
The scheme B is really only 100 square feet larger.
But let me just focus on the pieces of this option,
of both plans.
So you can see in blue is the aquatic wing.
And on the red is the community center wing.
And the lake side room that have all the tables.
And that is the same size as the existing lake side
room that you have now.
And the space program was determined
during the concept plan.
And the intent was really to accommodate all
of the existing activity programs
and to write sizes, as Jocelyn said,
many of the aquatic spaces.
We did in the new program accommodate one additional
multi-purpose room, and what we are identifying
as this lobby space, which is our atrium.
That is, those are new components to the space program
that the existing facilities do not have.
So let me just walk you through.
if you're a visitor here.
It is a combined facility, so there
is synergy with both functions.
Yet at the same time, there are separate entries.
So if you are someone who knows you're going to go swimming,
or you have a swim lesson, you come into a dedicated entry,
and then you can check in at this reception desk,
and then it walked onto the pool deck.
If you are coming for a program or an activity
one of the multipurpose rooms, you
would come through the main front door
and into the H room, which is a large, really what we
consider the community living room for the community center.
And it really is sort of the shared space
between both components of the aquatic community center.
And if you were coming to a very large event,
an amazing wedding that's going to take place in the lakeside
room and you know you're going there,
you actually don't have to come through the front door.
you could, if you don't absolutely.
But you also, there could be a special sign
so that you can actually, I'm sorry,
can you see my cursor here?
You can come through this secondary entry
to go directly into a wedding.
So if you have a simultaneous event,
and the event can accommodate it,
and that's for staff to determine,
then the separate entries really allow both functions
to happen at the same time.
So in addition to scheduling accommodations
to make sure that if there really is a huge aquatics event
then maybe currently you wouldn't rent the lake side room
but in the case where both could simultaneously
work together, there are separate entries.
Let me just speak a little bit more about this atrium space
because we think it's quite an important space.
There is a reception desk that's sort of the knuckle
and the way finding for people who are coming in
whether either you can be directed to another window
for the swim aquatics area or you could be directed
to a multipurpose room.
There are also kitchens and storage
that serve the lake side room and the other two
multipurpose rooms.
So what we did, this is scheme B,
but as we were developing it, we thought, you know what?
Whoops, let me go this way.
What would be really nice is if we could make the spaces that
are these circulation spaces, or the atrium,
or the breakout space for the multipurpose rooms
to be a little more interesting and functional.
These are not wasted spaces.
They are intended to be informal gathering.
Or even you could rent them out for other events
that would accommodate informal programs or special events.
This, I forgot to mention, this is in both cases
the aquatic classroom, which has a wall that
opens onto the atrium space.
All of these program spaces also have outdoor connections
with walls that open out.
So there's an extension from the inside to the outside.
And with this tweaking of the plan,
we're able to make the outdoor space a little more
generous outside of the lake view room were able to make this wall that views out onto
the pond of the atrium a little more wide so that you have this more spectacular view.
And what I thought was really important is to have a connection that's a little more
gracious between the two wings of the building.
So that is both in the—let me just end by saying that we think that both of these options
are really wonderful.
We think that there's been a lot of input from many users and city staff so that this
has really been a very strong collaborative effort.
And our intent, which if I pause on this image for a moment, it was really to make sure that
This is an iconic building that it really
responds to the community desire to make it
a traditional building with traditional forms
like gable shapes.
It at the same time very modern and contemporary.
And it wants to be warm and inviting.
And those are all of our sort of touchstones
as we have designed the project.
And I want to keep track of that.
So I'm going to continue on to.
Good evening, commissioners.
My name's Gina Chavez.
I'm a landscape architect on the project
with RRM Design Group.
I'm gonna go over the site plan a bit.
But just to first start out
with some of the guiding principles.
The idea is to expand on the current program spaces
at the park and to maintain
the existing pedestrian walkways,
create the new community living room space
that Janet was talking about,
improve the pond layout and function,
and also provide an acoustic barrier
between the pools and the rest of the park,
and also just to consider all the users at the park,
passive, informal, and programmed.
I was out at the park this afternoon,
and it was a beautiful sunny day.
There was just so many different users out there.
It was really remarkable.
I started talking to this one woman.
She had moved from San Francisco to Walnut Creek 26 years ago,
and she said when she was trying to make the decision,
she came to Heather Farm Park, and she showed me
the place where she sat and was watching the birds and she said that was that
actually really played a big role in her decision to move there and she's still
walking her dog out there and watching the birds to this day so I found that to
be inspiring. So as Jocelyn mentioned we are bound by several existing features
and amenities at the park on I'm gonna use the mouse to sort of point these out
but on the east edge we are maintaining the alignment of North San Carlos Drive
and the existing bikeway as well as all of the existing intersections that the
park that the community center is adjacent to. And then a big thing of
course are the views as Jana and Jocelyn both mentioned the views from the
facility across the pond to the gardens and the other park amenities and also
the views onto the site from those amenities I walked across to the gardens
and just walked up there and it's such a spectacular view across that pond to
the existing community center and I just imagined how much better it's going to
be with this new building. So that's really exciting. As Jocelyn and Janet
also mentioned, we are slightly reconfiguring the pond so we are
eliminating this north eastern lobe which tends to be a bit stagnant anyway
and we are gaining that space for the building and the outdoor spaces and in
addition we are connecting the pathway that goes all the way around the pond so
this whole eastern edge is not there today but that will create a continuous
loop around the pond for the many users who are out there. And then on the south
edge of course the beloved playground we're not touching that but we're just
It's creating better connections to it,
creating some new paths that are on this north edge
of the playground, and then making a direct connection
straight to the pond and to the pool amenities,
as well as to the community center.
And then also on the north edge, we
are respecting the creek corridor and the oak woodland
out there.
So we talked to the Autobahn Society and the Bird Alliance.
And it's super important to create
Barrier between the activities that are happening at the community center and the natural lake out there
so we talked to them about some methods that we could
That we could integrate into the site plan to create that buffer that acoustic buffer
And then another buffer that we are considering is this green berm right down here. So this creates a
separation between the pool areas as well as the rest of the park uses and then the building also creates a bit of
of a barrier between that natural lake and the pools.
So this is just a real quick context.
I'm going to get into the details of the community
center, the event patios, and the courtyards, and the drop-off.
But just to give you a quick idea of the site,
so Janet already reviewed the building here.
But we have a new drop-off area, which
I'll talk about in a minute when we go into circulation.
And then we also have an enclosed
courtyard at the front of the building, that's one entrance, and I'll go into that a little
bit more. But we also have the primary entrance here where you can access that atrium, and
then we have entrance into the aquatic center as well, and I'll get into that detail. But
then on the west side of the building we have a couple of different event patios, one outside
of the lakeside room and one outside of the multipurpose room, and the idea here is really
to have that indoor-outdoor connection, that seamless space where you could flow in and
out.
And then we also have some spaces adjacent to this new pathway that would be accessible
to the public.
So some sloped lawn areas where people can just hang out informally and watch the park
activities and the birds.
And then we also have some things to work into the design like bioretention features
to treat the stormwater.
So that's all integrated into this space.
So this is Scheme A. So this is where the building is slightly
angled.
Wrong control.
So Scheme B, the site plan, is very similar.
So it respects all of the same park relationships
that I just talked about in Scheme A. The only difference
is the building is more rectilinear.
So there's a little bit less space in the event area
on the west side of the building in this scheme,
and a little bit more space in the private courtyard
on the east side of the building.
So that's the only difference between the site plans.
So taking a look at circulation, we
have this designated pickup drop-off area right here.
So as you're coming north on San Carlos Drive,
you would come up and you would either turn left,
we're actually studying this whole circulation
and drop-off area with the city
and consultant traffic engineers right now.
So we're determining what this configuration
is going to be in terms of direction of traffic
and parking and all of that.
But in general, this is intended to be
a designated drop-off area.
And we also added an entrance,
it's just north of the plan right here.
But that allows you to come past this main entrance,
in case it ends up being a one-way.
And then you go north on San Carlos Drive.
You turn left into the parking lot.
And you either go park in the north parking lot,
where the solar structures are.
Or you may find some parking down here.
Or you may just pull all the way through
to drop off community center or aquatic center visitors here.
And then you pull back out.
So, and I'll give you a little bit more detail on that
when we look at the blow up site plan.
In terms of connections, we have several connections
to the facility from, there are three
from the existing parking lots.
So you have the north parking lot up here,
and then you have the east sports field parking lots
down here, and then just off the page,
just south of the playground,
you have the Clark Swim Center parking as well.
So we are creating paths from each of these parking areas
and safe crossings to get to the east side of the building
as well as the west side of the building
and the aquatic center.
There are several entry points into the aquatic center,
including entrance for service vehicles
like the mechanical equipment and pump trucks.
And once again, this still preserves the existing bike path
that goes along North San Carlos Drive.
So taking a closer look at the site plan,
I'm going to just explain scheme A in detail,
and then I'll just point out the minor differences in scheme B.
So starting at the entrance, as I said,
if you drive north on San Carlos Drive,
you can choose to park over here or park
in the sports field parking.
Either way, you can come in as a pedestrian
from this direction, and we have a nice, generous pathway here,
10 feet wide so that you can accommodate
multiple forms of circulation.
Or you may come from the north parking lot
over the existing bridge and come down this, once again,
generous pathway, and you swoop around this enclosed
courtyard, which then opens up into this large pedestrian
oriented entry courtyard.
So if you're coming to an event, and maybe there
There's a special, like Jana was talking about,
maybe a sandwich board that says Smith wedding this way.
Then you would turn into this courtyard, come through a gate.
And this could be a space where your guests are waiting,
having cocktail hour, maybe having some photo ops.
We might have a decorative wall in here with plantings on it.
But this is really intended to be for events,
but also everyday staff lunches or hangout space.
So it's dual functional.
but then you have access from this courtyard
to the lakeside room on the north edge,
on the north side of this building.
So if you're not coming to a special event
or coming to the staff patio,
you might come to this main entryway here,
which looks directly into the atrium,
which is the community living room,
but also it has a view straight out to the pond.
So the intention is you come here
and you can see through to the pond
and people want to walk through this space,
whether it's to get to the other side
or to attend some function in the building.
And then we have a third possible entrance
for things like when you have a swim center event,
you might have this sliding gate that's open
and you have a table set up so that people can check in
and they don't have to come through the building.
They can just go straight into the aquatic center.
So whichever way you're going to get into the swim center
or to the lakeside room or the multipurpose room,
you come through to the other side of the park
where you have the pond.
And this is the west side, the sunny side.
And we have two different event patios.
So we have this one up here, which
is adjacent to the lakeside room.
And then we have another one here,
which is adjacent to the multipurpose room.
And the intention here is that these could really
be used as one large space rented out,
or they could be separated into two different spaces.
Maybe someone just has a smaller event
that they want to just have half the size.
So the intent is for this to be flexible.
And then adjacent to these patios,
we have lots of green space.
So on the north patio, the lakeside patio,
we have this lawn area adjacent.
And the intent here is to really be able to flow back and forth.
So maybe if you're having a wedding,
you have tables on the patio, but you also
have tables flowing out to the lawn.
Or you have your ceremony up here
on this northern lobe with the lake behind you
and the oak woodland, and you set up your chairs here,
and then you have your party on the patio
and in the adjacent lawn.
And then the multipurpose patio is intended to be flexible,
but we're kind of seeing this as maybe it has a standing bar
And it has furnishings where people
can hang out in a separate event or a combined event.
And then in addition to these private areas, which we are
seen as being fenced in, we have these more public spaces.
We have this pond platform that you can sit in here.
It has built-in seating, views out to the lake.
And we have these adjacent lawn areas.
And maybe they slope up, and people can hang out there.
And then we have the bioretention that I mentioned earlier,
which is really designed to be integrated into the landscape
as a feature rather than just an engineered element.
And then this is the berm that I was talking about
that creates some separation between the pool and the pond.
And the pool area is going to be tiered
because of the way the grades are out there.
So this wreck pool area is lower than the 50-meter pool area.
So then Scheme B is very similar.
It's just the shape of the lakeside patio
is a little bit different, a little bit smaller,
and then the private enclosed courtyard
in the front of the building is a little bit bigger.
So now I'm gonna pass it over to Ned
who is going to talk about
the three-dimensional elements of the spaces.
Thank you, Gina.
My name is Ned Reifenstein, let me adjust this,
Ned Reifenstein with Nolan Tam,
and I'm gonna talk some more about the renderings,
the 3D views that we did.
Janet talked about this one a little bit.
I'll talk some more.
This is the aerial view of Scheme A,
where you can really see our intention of setting
the two gabled forms off against a sort of set of flatter
roofs, giving them a little bit more prominence
and really marking them as the special spaces in the building.
Each one of those volumes goes all the way through.
glass on both ends. At least with the lakeside room you have the option of
keeping the partition open so you get that full space. It can also be divided.
Also you can see very clearly here how the lakeside room is canted a little bit
more to the north. In addition to being sort of fronting more on that event
space on the lower left corner, it also is going to help a little bit with the western
exposure and the heat gain issues which we've been thinking a lot about.
So Scheme B, the folded plane scheme, is really thought of as a landscape of roofs, which
is not really an abstract idea because this building will be seen from a distance across
the park from the garden across the way. You'll be seeing it against the backdrop,
which is the mountains. And we really took our cues from the undulating ridge line of
Mount Diablo and its neighbors and thought that we could create a kind of similar kind of cascading
effect with the roof lines of this building. So going to the entries sequence, this is the
drop-off space that Gina was showing in her slides, were coming from the
sports field parking lot across North San Carlos and this might actually be
just after being dropped off right there. The front and center there is the main
atrium space which is the largest feature and really meant to be a
welcoming iconic moment to tell you where to go and where to you know please
come in. If you are a swimmer and you don't really need to go into the
community center the aquatics programs are off on the left you can see there's
a separate entry there also the beginnings of a trellis system that will
wrap around that whole wing to provide shade and some continuity for those
forms. On the right you can see the lakeside room which also is prominent
though not as not as a front door kind of experience as the atrium has. If you
are coming for a function at the lakeside room you do have the option of
peeling off on the right like Gina was discussing. If you wanted to separate the
the access from an aquatic event and a wedding or a special event in the Lakeside Room.
So going to option B, this one, the atrium space appears more vertical.
It's actually the same height, but it's a little bit narrower in terms of the expression.
The roof comes out further to provide more of a front porch
effect for the building.
The same program disposition is here.
The aquatics to the left and the lakeside room to the right
with the trellises tying them together.
So going into the atrium space, we're
now about at the middle of the atrium,
looking back out to the drop-off where we just were.
You can see the reception desk on the left
where you can sign into programs and get oriented
to events and programs.
In the back is the, or sort of in the distance by the entry,
is the aquatics entry.
They also have a smaller desk.
Most of their people will be coming from outside,
but we also gave an option for people
who come through from the lakeside
to be able to have a place where they touch down
and are directed into the aquatics program.
On the right is the aquatics classroom,
which opens out onto the pool deck,
but it also has frontage on the atrium space,
so it's really meant to be potentially an amenity
for both the community center and the pool program.
Our goals for this space were to really provide
as much daylight as we could without it being blasting light.
So we have clear stories with large overhangs
to shield the direct sun, but to have glazing at both ends
and to really bring in as much daylight as we can.
This is a view from the pool deck.
You can see the recreation pool on the right.
Straight ahead is that aquatics classroom.
It's set back a little bit with a courtyard,
a shaded courtyard that would be part of the amenity.
You could have the party inside and also outside.
The left wing, what you're seeing right there
is one of the swim team offices, but behind that
would be the locker rooms or the changing rooms, I should say.
On the right side are the staff offices
for the aquatics program and the lifeguard room,
right there on the deck with a really good viewing
of everything going on in the swimming areas.
This is a view of the lakeside room in the evening,
set up for an evening event.
We're looking west towards the pond.
The operable wall is open, so we're
showing how what's happening inside is spilling out,
creating a real kind of connection
between inside and outside.
Here, we wanted as much wood as we could,
really give it warmth. Again, there are clear story, there's clear story lighting
on both the north and the south side, so the volume is really filled with light.
And when the partition is open, this would be a similar view on the
other side, so this kind of feeling would go all the way through the room.
And lastly is the view of the center from the event garden, we've been calling it the
place where we might potentially have a wedding.
Looking back to the event patio set up for a reception, you can see the lakeside room
with a partition open.
The lights are on and people are enjoying the new community center.
I think, oh, one more thing here.
We have some small massing models that, well, yeah, yeah, one of them, one of them is down
a bathroom.
So anyway, I can pass these around.
It goes back on easily.
So that concludes the presentation of the schematic design package.
Before we take your questions, I just want to highlight for you the next steps.
We're going to be presenting to other commissions, the youth commission, and then a second meeting
with pros where we focus on just the design of the two pools.
And then a meeting with the arts commission relating to public art.
And then we'll synthesize all of the feedback received and go to city council for two meetings.
And then that will conclude the schematic design phase of the project.
And then we'll begin design development where we present and prepare the fully developed
building plan, landscape plan, materials and color palette.
And again, we'll take those through to stakeholders, commissions and council.
So we will be back somewhere around the springtime to present those materials and color palette
and landscape plan.
So with that, we're available for your questions.
I'm sure we've got some questions.
Let's begin all the way at the end.
About that.
I just had two general questions.
One was the in front of the community center, the drop off area.
Are you restricted there?
To me it seems like it's a wasted opportunity there.
And I didn't know if that was beyond your scope or not.
It seemed like that was a very large area that could present another opportunity.
And the way you have that large drop-off and the existing redwoods, I was wondering, you
know, if that was part of the project or not.
So you're talking, so the circle area shown here is currently under study, but that is
actually a very busy area currently.
And so we needed to accommodate a fairly sufficient amount of queuing there.
But that area is under study, so we haven't fully worked out the details of, you know,
is that one way, is it two way?
Well, I'm not talking about that circulation, I'm talking about that whole area to where
it could be developed all the way out to the bike path.
I don't know why you need such a large circular area, you know, whether you could have more
parking there, a larger outdoor space.
And my question is, is that within bounds of the project?
Yes.
Yes, it is.
And there are two kind of studies.
My understanding is one is attempting
to preserve those redwoods, and another would maybe
looking at ways to provide some ADA parking that's
closer to the entrance.
So by the next time we talk to you,
we actually should have our final design for that area.
It will be a bit of a trade-off.
If we remove the redwoods, the grade between North San Carlos Drive and the actual entry
of the community center means that if we put anything there, it will have to navigate that
grade.
So there will be a bit of a cost-benefit analysis to how that works.
I do see what you're saying.
As far as opportunity for more circulation, more parking, it might be quite expensive.
So we're currently studying that and how it would affect the rest of the project.
Okay, next question, scheme A, I think is the tilted one,
or the, I mean, you're calling this
the lakeside room and everything,
but yet, that scheme, you know, you go away from the pond.
You know, you're kind of looking away from it,
and you're not really focusing on it.
So, I kind of like that scheme better,
but again, the whole idea is to take advantage of the pond,
It seems like you're kind of shifting away from it.
Yeah, that one orients a little bit more
towards the outdoor adjacent space that would be used,
say, for a wedding event.
You would kind of flow in and out of that lakeside room
into the event garden.
I don't know if there's anything you wanted to add.
Yeah, so in this scheme, like Janine said,
if you're in the event garden, you're
looking straight back southwest toward the pond.
But from the lakeside room, you're looking directly across.
But you also have a view of the natural lake through there
as well.
So in this scheme, maybe you have a little bit better angle
on the natural lake view.
But either way, from the event garden,
however the building is canted, you're
going to see the pond and the natural lake.
OK, my last question is, we received
letter from the Aquatic Center what exactly is there concerns that you have
an address or is it three pool issue or what yeah so back in 2016 City Council
made direction to staff to further study just the two or move forward with just a
two pool option so that's the direction we got back in I believe it was 2016 so
we've been moving forward with that direction nothing has changed from
council's perspective but we are still working through some of the details with
the aquatic foundation in terms of the pool design and the pool deck and
capacity. We've made a number of adjustments based on some of those past
meetings but we're not asking the designer view commission to weigh in on
the pool design more so that sort of how the configuration of the pools work
with the layout in the in the new facility. I was just kind of curious I
mean they don't identify what their concern is but it was enough saying they
really didn't want us making recommendations so I was kind of curious
what is their concern that hasn't been addressed? The concern is they want
larger, a more amount of water, deeper water, and that what we've attempted to
accommodate is some of that more water, but they want, they would like more, but
this is a constrained site. Okay, thank you. So a very simple question. So you're
saying this is schematic design. What's schematic design? I mean, I'm an architect,
So I know what it is, but what's schematic design for you guys?
I mean, because I guess what follows
is that you're going to start developing this.
But I see that there are so many incongruences here
between form and the function and the mass thing.
And I don't know, it needs a lot of geometry work.
I mean, it's still very, I mean, look at the roofs.
Look at the roofs, it's far from a workable schematic design
to put it into design development phase.
I mean, that's my take.
I'm being honest and I think that's what you expect from us.
So I see that the building as well is,
it's really well connected.
I see that east-west axis, I really like that
between entry and lake, both sides.
but there's no such intent with connecting the building
with the pool.
I mean, I don't see that north-south axis reflected anywhere
and I think it deserves it.
I mean, it's a building that addresses the pool,
it's a building that addresses the weddings as well
and many other functions.
But my major concern here is that geometry-wise,
it looks more like an org chart with a roof to me
than actually a schematic design.
So, I'm not sure if you could repeat if there was a specific question.
Question is, so when you go to design development, are you taking this as the basis of your design
development?
Yes.
Or are you still going to refine the geometry, the massing, the scale, the…
Help me to thank you for your comments.
Sure.
You know, schematic design and design development,
there are sort of blurring of the edges.
We are definitely developing the design
into design development.
There are a lot of things that are still being resolved,
like just plan B or plan A, you know,
that in itself is an important decision
for us to move forward to.
However, a lot of the, there are a lot of things
that have been in our minds, and with our stakeholders,
and with the city staff set,
And that is the space program, the floor plan adjacencies.
And we are trying to resolve the roof massing and geometry
with the building.
I think the siding is actually getting pretty well set
because of the configuration and the limitations
of the ability of the site itself, the test.
We are constrained by where the all abilities playground is.
That is one boundary.
The pond itself, we've actually been able to,
by reducing the size of the pond,
there's been a little bit more area for the building.
But the pools also have very specific requirements
in terms of orientation and spacing and clearances.
So I don't think our idea is for sure
to make the building respect and work with the pools.
Right now, it's more focused, from what I'm hearing you say,
it's more focused on the recreational pool as a feature
because a lot of the program and the security
issues for the pool function require
that that pool be a little bit closer to the supervision.
So a lot of these requirements are also
playing into the design.
I hope that helps.
That's where we are.
But absolutely we are developing this
and we'll come back to you.
But any, I appreciate your comments.
I'm happy to hear that
because I think there's a lot of room here for improvement
in terms of the geometry, the massing, the scale.
We are not done.
Relationship of the volumes,
it's a little bit chaotic, I mean, to my perception.
Okay, we'll work on it.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I just have a process question first for the secretary,
because this is an informal, it's not a hearing,
it's just a consideration item.
Is this just sort of our one pass of questions
and comments and we're kind of done?
Well, I believe you just heard this is gonna come back
at a further developed stage.
I mean, just for tonight.
Yes.
Just gonna kind of do one pass of back and forth
with each commissioner and that sort of thing.
Correct, this is really an informational presentation
with the ability for the design review commissioners
individually to make comments and ask questions.
Great, perfect, thank you, Mr. Secretary.
So full disclosure, since I've been listening
to a lot of design professionals,
I am the sole non-design review professional.
I am a resident at large seat,
So my eyes on all design things that we look at
on the commission are through the eyes
of the everyday Walnut Creek citizen.
What do I wanna look at?
What do I wanna go to?
Where would I like to be, et cetera?
So I'm not gonna use fancy design terms or anything.
So I just wanna put that out there
so you didn't think I was like,
oh, who is this dude here?
And I'm just gonna kinda go in order
of kinda notes that I took.
So I know there's no official request for any feedback
on the three pool, two pool, size of the pool.
So just as a commissioner, I would be remiss
if I didn't just recommend to the extent the city,
the project team can work
with the Walnut Creek Aquatics Foundation,
of which I am not a member of,
or also I'm not a pool user here.
So I don't really have any bias on this.
Just to partner as much as you can to make everybody
as happy as possible as you can do in a project like this.
One question I had, so on the pond,
will there be any restrictions to walking or biking
around the pond based upon this holistic design?
No, the intent of the new design is that there is
an ADA accessible walkway around the entire perimeter.
Great. In some of the renderings I could,
and this just may be because of how you rendered it,
I can see with Scheme A versus B,
I can see different interior truss timber structures.
Is that on purpose going with those designs
or is that just flexible and it's just how you drew it up?
Yeah, yes.
Yeah, so those trusses are mix and match in the sense
that we had some different designs we were looking at.
And we thought, well, let's put one with A and one with B.
But we'll do five designs before we really settle on one.
And so it's under development.
OK, great.
Thank you.
If you have comments about them, we'd love to hear it.
So, do you like one?
Well, I'll answer that sort of holistic question
with overall, I prefer the version A, the gable,
the basically the building built with an angle in it.
Overall, I think that's preferable for my tastes.
I also didn't realize until I saw the little 3D guys,
I thought the big flat section between the two gables was fully flat, and I was going
to ask if you could do something to break that up, but I see on when then you have that
roofline inclining on the 3D model.
So was that intentional on the model?
That's over the second multi-purpose room so that it also has a little bit more height
and some special character as well.
I'm guessing.
I don't know for sure, but when I, it was great all the public feedback that was shared
and summarized in the package. I thought that was great to be able to see. I would imagine,
sounds like you got a lot of favor for a gable design, and then so when you look at the folded
plain design, my guess is that's probably not what the average person thought of when they said,
hey I like gables. Well when you do, I guess I would respond by looking at these two perspectives.
The two prominent forms in the building are still gables,
regardless of if these sort of in between are sloped or flat.
So from purely a layman's perspective,
just Charles looking at the buildings,
I think the atrium gable gets a little lost or diminished
in the folded plane design.
So again, I'm just sharing a personal preference
Because that's what you asked for.
Neither design is right or wrong.
I took a quote from you guys, which I love.
I'll use in my business life the weighted word cloud.
No, I love it.
I noticed on page 16, it was kind of interesting.
The scores you got between the different materials
were almost all the same.
So there wasn't seemingly any great preference
for one or the other.
Yeah, some of the questions did have very minor differentiation
in the preferences.
Yeah.
OK, so getting to the roof, any thinking of roof materials
at this point yet?
Yeah, the steeper slopes, the ones over the two gabled forms
in scheme A and the steeper slopes in scheme B
would be an asphalt shingle.
And then the low slope, the flat roofs would be,
which you wouldn't really see because it'd
be behind the parapet, would be a membrane of some sort,
a TPO, or it would be a white roof with a very thin slope.
And yes, something that doesn't show on the renderings
is that there would be a significant amount
of solar panels, probably on the aquatic swing
with the south facing.
Thank you for that.
I would, to the extent you could get away
from any kind of asphalt shingles
or classic gravel flat roofs, I would encourage that.
I saw some of these renderings are somewhere in there,
you know, the metal roof with the little seams.
I think that will be much more attractive on this building
than perhaps any kind of asphalt shingle.
Again, personal, just Charles' views.
Oh, another question.
So, and this is a good rendering up here.
So on this design, on the right-hand side,
so between the, I guess, the lakeside room
and the atrium, if I'm getting the pieces right,
and you've got the continued,
you've got the declining plane,
is that gonna be a cathedral ceiling from the inside,
or will that still be a flat ceiling,
just like as I would expect with the other design?
We're gonna expose that as much as we can.
If we're going through the effort
of making that kind of reform,
we wanna see it from the inside as well.
We have been looking at cross-laminated timber,
which is a new building technique
that uses wood panels as a structural system,
and it actually has the added benefit
being a finished shape on the you know finished material on the inside so we
haven't decided on that yet it depends on the how the budget works out but
that's that's been a concern that's been in our in our thinking great you'll
find the things I like probably end it end up costing more money and just to
clarify one of the things that we'll be bringing back at the next meeting to you
is the materials and colors palette.
Great.
And then with the design I like, it's got that flat area.
I don't know if there's anything architecturally that
could be changed there that could give it a little bit more
uplift and kind of open up the space.
So you don't have a flat ceiling.
So it doesn't look like this.
That's my general preference for buildings in general,
that openness.
it would go a long way to complement all that beautiful.
I love all the windows and light
you're bringing in everywhere.
Okay, getting to the end here, the aquatics classroom,
that looks like it has glass
and then it can open up to the atrium.
When you shared that, I had a little bit of mixed feelings
because I was thinking about,
I think somebody used the term for the atrium
of like the public living room or gathering space.
And then I might want more separation
from a classroom venue and all the people in the classroom.
I mean, glass is typically great,
but then if it's in this rendering here,
I'm looking at these people enjoying those chairs
and having their coffee or whatever,
and then you've got the classroom there,
might be a little distracting.
This is really talking about all the different patios
outside surrounding the building.
So I looked up quickly, and I may have an old number,
but we're looking at a $76.5 million project,
so let's just say north of $70 million of taxpayer money,
because this is Measure O sales tax money.
Are these patios, especially the ones facing the pond,
are they really private for mostly the use of people
who are renting the spaces?
or can I, as Charles and my wife, walk along the pond,
go up and spend some time on those nice patios?
I'm glad you asked that question
because I think in the presentation,
it maybe came across that way,
and they have the ability to be private for events.
They can be rented out,
but when there is not a special event,
they are open to the public.
Great.
Awesome answer, thank you.
Oh, okay, and then my last comment.
if you can bring up the drop-off area slide.
No, we're not doing a formal hearing.
That's why I asked the Secretary.
We're just going one by one.
I mean, aren't we doing public comment after this
and then giving her comments?
Sorry, the intent was to do questions first,
then public comment and then come back and do comment.
Okay, I'll turn the comment into a question.
That's why I asked the Secretary.
I thought it was not that formal, but no problem.
Sorry for mixing and matching.
So at the top there, when you're coming down
into the drop off area,
you've got those 90 degree parking spaces.
I don't know how much thought has gone into that.
So I guess the question is,
how much have you considered the absolute frustration
that might be caused to the people
trying to get down to the drop off area by 90 degree?
And I can tell you when they redesigned
the Encina Grande Shopping Center near where I live,
that used to be mostly like diagonal parking,
they turned it into 90 degree parking,
and it's a nightmare.
So we're currently studying that area
with the city and consultant traffic engineers,
but it's a very good point.
Thank you for pointing it out.
We are planning on having sufficiently wide drive aisles
to accommodate back out,
and we are looking at one study that has diagonal parking.
So we'll stay tuned on that.
is there any possibility of no parking there?
It doesn't look like a lot of spots.
Yeah, we definitely need to have the ADA spaces,
so we're working on that.
But in general, the direction has been
to not eliminate parking.
Right, I'm thinking about the 200 person beautiful wedding
that you had in the other rendering,
and thinking about all those people,
not the parking, the circulation of the drop-off area.
So anyway, that's what I was asking about.
Anyway, those are all my thoughts at the moment.
Thank you very much for indulging me.
Thank you.
Okay, so I'm gonna just ask questions
and then let the public speak,
and then I'll come back with comments
because that's, I think, what you wanted.
So can we talk, just refresher about the program of this?
So I know, let's talk about day-to-day.
So how many pool events are there per year,
like big, big pool events?
So in terms of large meets, there's two a year.
There's two a year, not that many, right?
But very popular swim center, right?
Very popular, in fact.
It opens very early in the morning
and around, I think it's five o'clock until 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
and Jim's gonna tell you more about it.
Okay.
Hi, Jim Carlson, recreation program manager
at Heather Farm Park.
Most of what I do is at the Heather Farm Community Center,
but I'm very aware of the Clark Swim Center as well.
They open at 5 a.m. every day of the week
and they close about 8 p.m. most days of the week.
And many people?
Yeah, they have a,
there's the three primary swim clubs that use it.
And in addition to that,
they have a very robust recreation swim program.
And they have a lot of,
the recreation swim program is primarily in the summer months,
but during the year it's lap swim seven days a week,
that's what they're primarily doing.
Yeah, so I don't know.
30 people in there at a time, more.
Just trying to figure out what it would be.
During when it's busy, 30 people,
during the recs, the lap swim time,
yeah, about 30 people would be about,
about per hour though, I mean, on the hour at all,
when they're having those hours that are open.
Is it different on the weekends than the weekday?
I can't really speak to the weekend, lap swim,
but I think it's more of the,
there's specific people that like to come
pretty much all the time.
So, they might be coming there five or six days a week,
some of the people that come laps.
Yeah.
And then, you physically live in the park, huh?
my office is in the park yes there's a head of farm community center so you'll live here
yeah um and uh how many folks are in your office we have we have eight full-time staff
that are there on and off but we're we are there uh year-round in that capacity in in the park like
in both facilities or just in the pool in the community center the the pool has three full-time
staff plus a maintenance person who runs between both pools and the community center has six
full-time staff and some hourly staff that work there many hours a day.
And what are they doing? Are they teaching?
Administration for recreation would be everything from taking in registrations,
taking phone calls, re-rent all the way of a facility rental operation that works out of there.
We have the sports field rentals that work out of there, the gymnasium facilities that get rented
out of there and some of the maintenance of the, not the public works maintenance, but
the recreation side, there's a maintenance guy.
So like you're actually renting out facilities outside of this facility.
That's correct.
We're a hub.
We're like a hub for the city.
Okay.
Tice Gym, the middle school gyms, the sport fields, up at Red Gear, Tice Valley Park,
all the parks.
So are people coming in a lot of the time these days?
Are they still coming in to rent things?
Are they doing it mostly online?
Absolutely.
People want to see what they're going to rent a lot of times.
We do a lot of tours where we'll actually go out and show
the facility.
Or they might be contract issues they want to talk about
that they can't resolve online or over the phone.
So they'll come in sometimes to talk about it.
But the majority of the work is done online,
over the phone, in conversations.
but when we get near the summertime, a lot of the, like one of the landscape
architect mentioned, there's just a lot of people in that park on a daily basis.
I think it was documented about 1.5 million visitors per year coming through that park.
Yeah, a lot. I'm one of them. It's a very busy park.
I mean, I think, what are the questions? So like, how about, so like in the community center,
right? So you have a lot of administration uses, right? But then classes, I mean, are there classes
in the community center? That's correct, yes. There are classes that are held in the lakeside room and
in the multi-purpose room, which is right now called the club room. In addition, in the summer,
there are camps held right on site that are very popular. The camps in the Heather Foreign
Community Center had about 1,100 people in it over the course of the summer last year. Yeah.
my kids have been in them. Thank you. I mean, that gives me a basis to make some comments later,
so thanks. What else what else was I going to ask? Just a question for the landscape architect. So
could you bring up like the site plan? Looking, I'm just looking at this. I mean, first off, I think
I'll make one comment, which is I think this is, I really like the direction of both.
the one thing that's kind of puzzling to me is that what what is the genesis of that
of that area that is down by the lake that's that's flow and accessible to the lake i mean
that where the stairway comes down to stairway walkway
was that flat area at the bottom was that something that people actually asked for
so are you talking about just adjacent yeah yeah the Jason yeah oh thank you oh that is helpful
Thank you, Janine.
So this is really actually sloped
because the building pad is about four feet higher
than the path around the pond.
So this is more like a gentle ramp going up,
and then the lawn areas here are sloped
and intended to be used.
So it's just a little bit of relief.
I mean, it's not flat, really, it's...
No.
Just another way to traverse the grade.
Correct, yeah.
All right.
I think that's it in the way of questions.
So now we're going to go to public comment, right?
Do we have any members of the public who want to talk?
So when you come on up, introduce yourself, and if you represent somebody, please say
who that is.
And you'll have how much time to talk?
You have two minutes.
You have two minutes.
Okay?
Thanks.
I don't need all of two minutes to say what I'm going to say.
I'm Leslie Hunt.
I am from the Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation, which is allied with the Walnut Creek Watershed
Council.
We know the Audubon people.
We belong to the environmental community in short.
Ever since the open space bond issue, am I really talking to this microphone?
Are we okay?
Okay.
I never know.
Walnut, anyway, ever since the open space bond issue 50 years ago, Walnut Creek's environmentalists
have had their eyes on Seven Hills Ranch.
I'm sure you didn't expect to hear about that tonight, but anyway, it joins Heather Farm
on the west.
It is 30 acres, and it plays an important supporting role in the wildlife that is in
the park.
Because it is on a wildlife corridor that comes down from the mountain through Shell
Ridge, across the civilized area, and across Seven Hills and on up the creek to Sissoon
Bay.
Lots of things use it.
And that is one of the reasons why Heather Farms Wildlife is as rich as it is.
But the proposed Seven Hills Ranch development is going to put an end to all of this, because
They have literally used just about every square inch of that 30 acres for something
that has nothing to do with the natural world.
So the park's wildlife is going to be a lot more dependent on the park's resources.
The Open Space Foundation has worked sporadically over the last 20 years or so to plant native
trees and grasses, but there's a lot more that needs to be done and that could be done.
That doesn't affect what you're looking at, specifically it's other parts of the park,
but it is something that we think about because part of the attraction of the park is the
wildlife that we have.
So what we suggest, there are, Walnut Creek Watershed Council suggested two or three years
ago that we make more use of the aquatic resources in particular, but there are others.
And we developed a plan for that.
Staff liked it.
The city council has proved it.
There is money.
There is momentum.
But it concentrates on water.
And a lot of our critters don't need water quite that directly, not for their sustenance.
They need native plants because those are the kinds that really nourish the pollinators,
the small aquatic...
Leslie, if you could wrap it up, please.
So what we would like to see in this design is that it be landscaped largely in any other
areas that are up for change. Be designed using native plants. Not only California native
plants, but plants that are native here, plants that our critters are accustomed to eating
and will recognize and use, and therefore support our wildlife. Thank you.
Introduce yourself. You've got two minutes.
Hi there. I'm Audrey G. I live and work here. I'm a business owner. I'm also chair of the
Walnut Creek Chamber. I'm here speaking on behalf of myself today. Just a couple
of things we wanted to point out. You know, we want to build a facility that
supports meats where swimmers and families can stay for a weekend. Where we
would be able to support the existing restaurants, hotels, the markets have all
that great economic vitality. But currently, the pool designed is too
shallow at one end. I think it's by like a foot and a half. It's a really small
amount that it's too shallow to permit like the starting block diving, which is necessary
from competitive meets.
And it's also two meters too short, again, small amount of time, small amount to be able
to accommodate the bulkhead, which is necessary to make the pool usable to run competitive
meets.
There's only two meets right now because the pool currently is too shallow to run those
regional meets.
We have an opportunity, we're spending $76 million, let's get it right this time where
where we can actually support competitive meets
for our existing aquatics community, right?
Masters, youth sports, all of those sorts of things.
We're missing out on, in just like a typical event,
would be 1,500 swimmers, maybe 3,000 to 4,500 people
with parents, right?
So the deck space also between the two pools
is too small for spectator bleachers and audience
in the show, so just moving it over just a little bit.
And the rec pool just needs to be a little bit larger,
with four more lanes, to make up the loss of the water
space for the third pool.
And the use is so great right now.
We can't even run water polo.
I'm a water polo parent, because everyone else, masters,
aqua bear, synchro, is all using the pool.
We don't even get space at all.
So the asks are a 52-meter pool, not 50, with a bulkhead.
And a bulkhead is like a floating walkway,
which allows them to, for several uses
at the pool at the same time,
it allows masters to rent 25 meter events,
not yards, that they're currently
holding out of the diving well.
We need a deep pool to be able to meet
the competitive swimming requirements,
USA Swimming, masters, those sorts of things,
that allow starting blocks on both ends.
And also, I would flip the beach access
because right now, the rec pool that you're showing here,
it's rectilinear, where I would flip that closer
to the changing areas because the beach access,
it would be great to be able to take advantage
of all the landscaped area and also it's a free form.
The last piece would be the classrooms and offices,
I think should be flipped.
So you could take advantage with all of the great views
of the pool, I'm sorry, of the pond
and then have all of the changing rooms
immediately accessible when you first walk in.
I understand that there are some concerns about security
but anytime that you run meets,
You always have parents who do gate duty,
so that certainly could be accommodated
in terms of the security concerns.
And then that is it, thank you very much.
Do we have any more public comments?
All right, so we're moving on to commissioner comments.
Let's go ahead.
Brian, you wanna start?
I think this is a good first step.
I don't really have any comments.
I've scheme A or B.
both are functional, the same.
I had to pick different reforms.
I would go with scheme A. Again, just hearing the last speaker
about the pool, I think from what I've limited know
that it might be issues then with the heating the water
and other things that play into that
that may determine how much water you use,
which may affect costs and everything.
So there's probably more to that.
But I think she makes sense what she's asking on the surface.
But whether that's doable or not, I don't know.
I guess, in general, I like it.
I think they do have their right circulation,
the connections into the existing park.
You know, and going around the pond, I think, is great.
Again, my only comment would be at this point,
as I mentioned earlier about the drop-off,
I was going more holistic to where, you know,
maybe the building could be enlarged or pushed forward
or even the pool, where that whole turnaround,
just scratch it and start from as if it wasn't there
and see what you can do.
I think it's just way too big for what it needs to be.
I think coming in, turning left and going that direction
and then having them coming in doing a year term
and coming the other way is just conflict
and I know you're gonna work it out
with the traffic engineers.
But why that couldn't be pushed more
toward San Carlos Drive and that might give you
an extra 50 feet, 100 feet to work with
for some more opportunities.
But overall, I like it.
So I will insist on the same thing.
I mean, I'm sorry that I took the question portion
for comments, so my comments remain the same.
I see that there are a lot of functions here
that seem to work together,
spaces appear to be proportionate to the users
and they relate to each other.
Unfortunately, the building does not express that as a form.
The building is, I see a collection of different pieces
that don't relate to each other.
I would like to see a more harmonious building
that actually expresses what successfully
is going on programmatically inside.
I see that I would make a big effort
during the design development
to move the building in this direction.
All right, thank you.
I think I shared quite a few comments
during my question period, so sorry for mixing and matching.
You know, at the 50,000 foot level,
I think it's a good concept.
You know, I'm a frequent customer of the greenery restaurant
at the golf course right across the street.
There's nothing that sort of really attracted me
to go over to the existing facilities.
I've been living here for about almost 23 years.
I'd want to come and hang out here and walk around here.
Again, I'm not a pool user, but it
looks like a very beautiful overall development that
would attract me to want to stop by and hang out,
maybe spend time in the atrium or some of those patios.
And that in my resident at large role,
that's one of my primary decision points about design.
Do I want to go hang out there?
And I think this looks great.
The building may not end up looking exactly like this,
but conceptually, I think it's fantastic.
And the only other comment I'll add,
Since we're spending 70 plus million dollars,
which means we have scale,
and scale to me in the business world
means we have purchasing power,
let's negotiate and get the best looking materials we can
for every aspect of this center, including the roof.
And let's make it look stunning for that kind of money.
Thank you.
Okay, first off, I think it's really,
you guys are really on a good direction.
I think, starting with operationally,
I mean, I think it's really important
that there continues to be dialogue
about how the flow of this thing is gonna work
and how swim and wedding and even soccer events
across the street can happen at the same time.
And I think, really, I think the others brought up
that area in the front, whether the Redwoods stay or go,
this, you know, Redwoods have a life.
I think you really have to make the drop-off work here.
And at this point, it being curved
and you just need to spread out those uses wider
along the frontage if you can.
I think about my own kids going to the swim events here.
And I just think about them having to go walk
all this distance.
I think about walking easy ups into it.
and I think there needs to be more direct access.
I don't propose a big change.
I just think maybe the access to the swim
needs to be closer and you need to think about that.
I think you need to think about,
okay, if there's a swim event
and a wedding going on at the same time,
I mean, you're gonna wanna do that.
You're gonna wanna maximize this facility,
get the rents that you can, have the community use it.
So just plan on that, just kind of pull along the front,
to pull those uses apart a bit.
I think if you look at, there's a secondary access,
like a vehicular access that's along, it's San Carlos.
Is that the avenue?
North San Carlos.
I mean, just having had my kids go to these swim events,
there's going to be, they're going to open those doors up.
And in those big swim events, they're
going to come right through those doors.
And they're going to go right across the street.
So just be aware of that.
Maybe do some kind of a crosswalk
to actually spread those uses out because that's the way,
there's a real opportunity here to spread the uses out
to allow a lot of people to use it at once.
Looking at the community feedback that you got,
I noticed that the library was most favored.
Library really has a mix of materials.
I think the library has too many materials on, frankly,
but the idea that there's a few materials,
I think, I love the wood.
I think we as architects, we love wood, right?
I think my job is thinking about the taxpayer money.
I mean, they're never gonna,
if you looked at that existing community center,
it's all wood, it's all shot, right?
So think about mixing in other materials,
be it stucco or, you know,
some of the examples you had had concrete,
I don't know if you can afford the concrete,
but actually really focus on the wood around the entrances
and then actually provide more practical materials.
It hurts me to say it, but you know,
put the bang for the buck in,
make sure you're using materials that are strong.
I disagree with the roof, I'll tell you why, Charles.
The way this building is designed,
you're never gonna see that roof.
I think in the studio, I think if it was my studio,
I think everybody in my studio would like option B
because the roof is a cool idea, it's a nice start.
But the reality is, you don't see it.
From a human scale, you're actually below it at the pond.
You're actually coming in from the other side.
The way you've designed, I think it's kind of clever,
and that's why you're thinking comp,
is you'll never see that roof.
So if you can make it, if you can continue to design
so you don't see it, I don't have any objection
to it being an inexpensive material.
But why comp, you know?
If you're gonna do an all-electric building,
if you're gonna save energy,
I mean, it should be a light color, right?
If you can pull that off, if they can afford it,
that's probably better.
Also, highlighted the word modern.
I mean, I think modern is great.
Modern is harder to detail,
but I think if you make it a more transitional design
than trying to get hung up in a lot of detail,
I think it's gonna be good.
Natural materials, the wood.
I love the cross laminated timber idea,
if you can afford it.
Another big word in those idea clouds is shade.
So shade, you have to integrate it into the design,
into the overhangs of the building.
I think the trellises that you have, they have to work.
They have to actually provide shade.
They can't be window dressing because it gets hot.
And the way they intend to use the facility,
which is in the afternoons and the summers
where there's gonna be a lot of weddings,
You need to actually provide shade.
I mean, maybe I'm not thinking about
which direction is north or south.
But just make sure that you're providing shade there,
that you're providing shade at the pool,
real shade, not window dressing.
And think about what the trellis is.
I mean, I love the idea it's gonna look great day one,
but, you know, a mix of materials, right?
So like, maybe some of it being steel,
things that are easier to maintain.
And again, punching the wood
see you can use it so you get the value of it,
but then make sure they have a reasonable idea
to maintain this thing.
My favorite pet peeve with these early designs
is where's all the rooftop equipment, right?
I mean, it's all missing.
So whatever you do, you're going to have to actually do in a way
so the equipment cannot be seen.
I'm not talking about roof screens.
Do some sight line drawings so you
make sure that you can't see it from a human scale.
What else?
I mean, I support the idea of more pool space.
I think I've gone to pool events
at the existing swim center,
and there are easy ups everywhere.
And in those couple of,
those are very important community events.
They're a couple times a year, but they're very important.
So study what those actually look like
and make sure there's enough space
and make sure they have shade and places
to lay those things down.
Native plants, I heard the comments about native plants.
Native plants are great.
I think there's certainly some great opportunities here
in the bioswales and other places to do that.
I mean with the losses they have in Seven Hills Ranch
and so forth, it's a good idea to integrate that
as much as you can.
We're not supposed to talk about the pools,
but my pet peeve with my own pool,
Walnut Heights Pool is the fact that it's not deep enough.
And a couple of years ago, a kid cracked his head open.
There's ambulances.
Every year, there's ambulances, because it's not deep enough.
So think about the liability.
And the other thing is, there's only so much money here.
I appreciate the fact that there have been donations.
There may need to be more donations
to make those things happen, because projects are not cheap.
This is a public project.
This is taxpayer money, $76 million,
it seems like a lot of money,
that's $50 million worth of building cost with a pool.
You need to find the money to make the pools right
because otherwise it's creating a liability for the city.
And I think I've said enough.
Okay, I think this item has been completed
and we could move on.
I mentioned earlier that staff might have more commission considerations, but I'd like
to make that actually in item six, commissioner staff reports or announcements.
Okay, so let's proceed with item six.
Just a couple of announcements.
One and I think you've all received this is that the Mayor Chair quarterly meeting schedule
for 2024 is out.
The first one is, I believe, next Friday, the 26th.
I think that's next Friday, 7.30 a.m.,
so that would be the current chair and vice chair.
Following would be April.
By that time, first meeting in March,
we'll do a rotation for chair and vice chair.
So, the rest of the schedule would be April 26th.
All of these are Fridays at 7.30 in the morning,
April 26th, July 26th, and October 25th.
Secondly, the reappointment interviews
for various commissions in the city,
for all the commissions in the city,
the recruitment began on the 9th,
and it closes on January 31st.
There's openings, one for this commission.
Then there'll be two for the Arts Commission,
Two for Planning Commission, one for pros,
two for transportation,
four for the Board of Appeals,
one for the City Council's Advisory Council on Aging,
and then I believe one for the Mosquito and Vector Control.
There will be a recognition ceremony
for those new commissioners and reappointed commissioners,
and that looks like it's gonna be March 5th.
March 5th, excuse me?
exiting commissioners as a part of that ceremony. And lastly well and there's
another mention about the Mayor Chair meetings. So the third item would be and
and I think we all you've all already taken your passes and thank you for
exchanging those out and bringing me the old ones for those of you that did but
those of you that didn't all need to get make next meeting just bring in the
the 2023 pass, okay?
And it came with a memo on how, where,
and when you can use those passes.
And Chair, that's all I have.
That's all staff has.
Excellent.
So now we're gonna move on to item seven,
which is adjournment.
Thank you very much.
Yeah, we'll do some out.