In this Walnut Creek Spotlight Issue…

 💭 Spotlight Hook Trivia

🌧️ Walnut Creek, CA Weather

 📅 Walnut Creek, CA Events

 🍔 Who Has The Best Burger In Walnut Creek? (Vote Below)

 🔥 Contra Costa County Suspends All-Electric Requirements for New Buildings

🏊 Measure O in Action: Transforming Heather Farm Park for the Next Generation

🏘️ Two Major Housing Developments Move Forward in Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek

🗓️ Know of Some Local Events not Listed? Send Us The Details!

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Question: Walnut Creek is known for its commitment to open space and conservation. How many acres of open space does the city maintain?

A) Over 500 B) Over 1,000 C) Over 2,700 D) Over 3,000

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

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Who Has The Best Burger In Walnut Creek?

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Contra Costa County Suspends All-Electric Requirements for New Buildings

In a recent development, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors made a pivotal decision to halt the enforcement of its mandate requiring the construction of new buildings to be exclusively electric. This mandate was a key component of the County's building code, which aimed to eliminate the installation of natural gas infrastructure in most new constructions, advocating for electricity as the primary energy source. This change of course comes in the wake of a decisive ruling last month by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The court found a similar ordinance by the City of Berkeley, which banned natural gas infrastructure in new buildings, to be in conflict with the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act. This Act restricts local governments from imposing building codes that ban gas plumbing in structures.

Given this legal backdrop, Contra Costa County has paused its all-electric building requirement, aligning its policies with the recent judicial findings. Despite this adjustment, the County's Board of Supervisors remains steadfast in their environmental and public health objectives. They initially embraced the all-electric mandate to mitigate climate change impacts and enhance public health. To sustain momentum toward these goals, the Board has tasked its Sustainability Committee with exploring alternative strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. This move underscores the County's ongoing commitment to minimize fossil fuel usage in construction and promote all-electric buildings as a greener alternative.

Board Chair Federal D. Glover expressed the County's unwavering dedication to environmental stewardship and the pursuit of innovative solutions to lower emissions from the building sector. He encouraged the community to adopt all-electric systems and appliances, highlighting the numerous benefits such as improved air quality, cost savings on gas infrastructure, financial incentives for electric appliances, enhanced resilience to power outages through battery storage, and the potential for future regulatory changes favoring electric technologies.

Measure O in Action: Transforming Heather Farm Park for the Next Generation

Exciting News for Walnut Creek! 🌳

The City is replacing the aquatic and community center in Heather Farm Park.

The existing facilities have served the community well for more than half a century, but the aging aquatic and community centers are in need of replacement.

The project is primarily funded by the Walnut Creek voter-approved Measure O, a ten-year, half-cent sales tax measure.

Significant work has been done and the project team will bring a schematic design presentation package to City Council.

This package comprises a series of illustrative plans and perspectives of the proposed facility.

We invite you to attend the following meeting at City Hall, 1666 N Main St, Walnut Creek:

📅 March 5, 2024, 6 PM – City Council meeting #2: Review of Aquatic Facilities

Your input matters! Agendas and materials will be available here on the Friday before each meeting.

Learn more at https://brnw.ch/21wHq7w 🌳 #CityofWalnutCreek

Two Major Housing Developments Move Forward in Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek

In a significant stride towards addressing the housing shortage, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors recently greenlit two notable housing developments in unincorporated areas of Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek. Spearheaded by Calibr Ventures, these projects had faced their share of appeals but ultimately received the nod from the county supervisors, marking a pivotal day for local development.

The first development, positioned at 1024 and 1026 Grayson Road in Pleasant Hill, encountered initial resistance from the county planning commission. However, the supervisors' unanimous decision overturned this denial, paving the way for a 10-home neighborhood spanning 3.05 acres. This project, intriguingly located by Grayson Creek, promises a range of single-family homes, with sizes varying from 2,900 to 3,500 square feet. Notably, one of these homes will be earmarked for a moderate-income household. Despite the removal of 97 trees, the plan includes planting 162 new ones, addressing environmental concerns that had been raised.

Contrastingly, the second proposal for a 10-home subdivision at 3180 Walnut Blvd. in Walnut Creek sailed through the planning commission but faced an appeal from a local resident, William Goodwin. Goodwin's concerns about drainage and the potential mismatch of the two-story homes with the neighborhood's character were not enough to sway the supervisors, who unanimously denied the appeal.

Both projects have sparked a mix of reactions from the community, with opponents voicing concerns over environmental impact, traffic, fire safety, and affordability. Yet, Supervisor Ken Carlson, with his deep ties to Pleasant Hill, underscored the pressing need for more housing. He pointed to legislative inaction at the state level as a catalyst for the current crisis and emphasized the projects' alignment with state housing mandates.

The approval of these developments represents a delicate balancing act between fostering necessary housing growth and safeguarding community interests. As these projects move forward, they symbolize a step towards alleviating the housing shortage while navigating the complexities of local development.

Thursday's Weather: Expect a rainy day with a high of 58°F and brisk SSW winds at 15 to 25 mph. Rainfall could reach a quarter of an inch, with a 90% chance of rain. The UV index is low at 2. At night, the temperature will be 47°F, with intermittent rain showers and SW winds at 10 to 15 mph. Humidity stays high, and the waning gibbous moon will rise late at 11:14 pm. A day to keep the umbrella close. ☔🌧️🌖

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