On November 12th members from the Tice Valley community met with the Walnut Creek, CA City Planning Commission and vocalized strong opposition to the proposed Pulte Homes Trellis development currently in the review process. Pulte is proposing 53 homes on 5.3 acres. These homes on the old JCC site are marketed and designated not as condos or town homes but rather tightly packed single-family homes, 10 per acre in our semi-rural neighborhood where two homes per acre is the norm. Somewhere between forty and fifty of my neighbors got up one after another to protest this development for three main reasons: density, traffic and flooding. The speakers from the community were unanimously opposed to this needlessly over-crowded project on land that is currently zoned as recreation/open space land. The meeting was standing room only and speakers (representing nearly 100 community members) spoke passionately for over two hours about how this development would negatively impact our beautiful Tice Valley neighborhood – one of the last semi-rural areas left in Walnut Creek. Neighbors spoke of the dangers on our county roads and the common experience of flooding of Tice Creek. As an un-incorporate area of Walnut Creek, residents in our area don’t get a vote or any representation within Walnut Creek. Despite paying the same taxes as everyone else in the city, our roads are not maintained by the city, we don’t have sidewalks and flooding is a county issue – not Walnut Creek’s problem. During the meeting we were all informed that one of our neighbors had been struck and killed crossing the intersection in front of the proposed Pulte Development on Tice Valley Blvd. The tragic irony of this event was not lost on those in attendance from the community. Members of the commission and county representatives conceded that our roads are not sufficient to handle existing, no-less increased traffic and that the flooding impact of the development is largely unknown. Throughout Walnut Creek’s 2025 General Plan are clear directives to preserve the character of neighborhoods and that our growth as a city should not be in contrast to our distinctive neighborhoods. Sadly, it doesn't seem that the Walnut Creek planning commission or the City Council feel as if they need to adhere to the 2025 Plan they helped create and approve. The unanimous opposition from Tice Valley’s neighbors to this poor quality (Pulte has issues across the country and many pending lawsuits on its shoddy homes), high-density housing was largely ignored. Three speakers from the JCC spoke in support of the project and all stand to profit from the sale to Pulte.  After hearing over two hours of opposition from the Tice Valley community the commission agreed to approve the re-zoning of the JCC land from recreational/education use and amend the 2025 plan to allow this housing project to move forward as proposed by Pulte. Only one person on the planning commission, Cindy Darling, did not approve the project based on the fact that she “could not get past the density issue.” Everyone in the room felt gutted. Did the planning commission listen to the neighborhood at all? Why did they bother to have a review process and public speakers from the community if our opinion would be ignored? It appeared as if the outcome of the meeting had been decided before it even begun. Why would they not consider true transitional housing numbers like 4-5 homes per acre which was suggested by many citizens?  The commission did not have to approve this project. This project obviously flies in the face of the goals laid forth in Walnut Creek’s 2025 General Plan. These 53 homes are not near BART, are not affordable housing and are considered by those in the area to be out of character housing that will bring blight, traffic and increased flooding to Tice Valley. Why is this project sailing thru? What does Walnut Creek stand to gain with Pulte and the JCC? Other more responsible developers with reasonable building plans have not been considered. It would seem that greed is the trump card here.   To add insult to injury, during the meeting we were informed that Pulte would now be marketing this development as “Farm to Table” living, capitalizing on the rural feel of our area. Sadly, those of us impacted recognize that you really can’t have “farm to table” without the farm.  Excerpt from Walnut Creek’s 2025 General Plan: “Walnut Creek’s neighborhoods play a major role in what makes the city an attractive place to live and work. Residents are proud of their neighborhoods and seek their protection and enhancement. Each residential area in the community has a unique character.” Goal 1: Protect and enhance the quality of life in the city’s residential neighborhoods. Protect and enhance distinctive characteristics of each neighborhood. Through the city’s review processes, consistent with existing neighborhood character, encourage high-quality residential design. Support neighborhood efforts that strengthen identity, and protect or enhance neighborhood character.  To get involved and help us preserve Tice Valley please contact Dabney Lawless: dabneylawless@gmail.com.