The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday pushed a developer’s plan to build 125 condos on the former Palmer School site in unincorporated Walnut Creek closer to reality.
The board officially certified the environmental impact report for the Oak Road Townhouse Condominium Project, planned to be built on 5.94 acres across Jones Road from Interstate Highway 680 and near the Pleasant Hill BART station.
The project, which would be approximately 470 feet north of the Contra Costa Canal, would entail 19 three-story buildings, some of which will have rooftop decks.
All of the buildings of Palmer School, which operated there from 1939 until it closed in June 2020, would be demolished.
The site would be rezoned and subdivided into 19 residential common lots and 11 private roadway lots (to be owned and maintained by the future homeowner’s association). There would also be 278 on-site parking spaces, including 34 bicycle spaces.
The project includes the removal of approximately 74 trees and relocation of one tree.
The applicant, Summerhill Oak Road LLC, would be required to sell 10 units to affordable and moderate-income households, and pay the county in-lieu fees of $387,753.
photo credit: Ray Saint Germain
There should be a statewide moratorium on new construction until Gavin and the Democrats put in new reservoirs and quit emptying them into the Pacific Ocean. There’s not enough water. And don’t @me about farmers using water unless you plan on starving to death.
Oops.
That’s too intelligent a statement.
Does not meet the New Normal criteria of Stupid for Life.
Water Usage in California
50% environmental (got to let streams flow)
40% ag (got to grow food)
3.2% Indoor Residential
3.2% Outdoor Residential
1.4% Outdoor Commercial
0.9% Indoor Commercial
0.7% Energy Production, ground water recharge, conveyance losses
0.6% Industry
Given that 39.5 million people use 3.2% of the water for indoor uses, (And the amount per person has been dropping). I think we could see an increase in population easily accommodated by cutting our outdoor water use. Do we need lawns around every office park? It should also be noted that around 15% of residential use is due to leaky pipes and faucets.
@idiots everywhere…..”40% ag (got to grow food)”…40% for growing wine grapes maybe, have you driven out in the valley the last couple of decades? There’s very few vegetable crops being grown in the Valley now, tomatoes and nut trees but overwhelmingly wine grapes….just my observations.
@Idiots everywhere…where did you find those data? Those numbers are very interesting to see, particularly the main water use. I have heard that our ag sector uses “too much,” and recall in 2010, all the dried and dead fields and orchards lining I5, with the “Congress created dustbowl” signs, as Congress actually legislated to stop water pumping. I would be curious to see those numbers.
And, what about all the golf courses using all that water to keep their courses green? I’d argue there isn’t enough money they can be charged to justify the amount they use. Take Oakhurst …that would be way more than enough to support the water needed to be used for more housing. This state’s housing crisis is deep, what we need is to take a look at recreational water use at that level as well.
No surprise.
Nothing comes before the board for approval unless it’s already been paid for.
+1
Seems like a very moderate proposal, density of nearby buildings is much higher.
… where is the water going to come from? anybody on the Board know that we’re in a long term drought with no expected relief? Newsom won’t build desalination plants or water retention facilities… so we have to ration for them to build? Ridiculous! (as posted from other blog) ….water is water – it’s got to be coming from somewhere – oh yeah, our rationing….
Actually, Newsom backs Desalination projects, for example, the Huntington Beach proposal.
Rob – he has had years to do anything and has spent our billions of surplus tax $$ on his pet projects
Yay! No more homeless!
/sarcasm
Amazing how fast they can get thing done when they profit. Meanwhile a regular business owner or homeowner gets nothing but red tape and consulting fees. Crooks!
The state is short on water and electricity, and we need the water to generate the electricity. Watch for more rolling blackouts this summer. They can build more homes, but I can’t hose down my driveway.
California is a failing state because of Democrat failed policies. Increased homelessness, illegal invaders, energy costs, crime, and murder.
Wake up all you Dems out there and smell the coffee, this is your fault.
+1
If it provides a thank you donation and tax benefits it is going to win approval every time. Forget the water, forget the traffic.
And 20 million to the landowner for selling the property. A nice profit for a guy who fired all the staff without warning on the last day of school and gave zero severance packages to any of the employees.
California has tons of problems but building too much housing is not one of them.
What a joke this affordable housing stuff is. So 10 people will get a below market condo and hold onto it forever. Wow, that really makes a dent.
I guess all good things come to an end at some point. Thank you Palmer School for the wonderful educating you did for so many years. My family will be eternally grateful to the Mendes Family.
Two years later and the way the family handled this makes me sick. Their school/business, their decision. I get it. But the way they treated the staff and students was deplorable. They didn’t even have the courtesy to give the kids their last class photos to remember each other by. Guess they couldn’t afford the stamps. May they choke on their millions…