On Tuesday, the Walnut Creek City Council is set to discuss placing a ballot initiative on the November election that would establish a transit village.
The initiative aims to update zoning in Downtown Walnut Creek to facilitate delivery of over 200 units of senior housing and mixed-use retail to a 2.4-acre site located at the northeast corner of North California Boulevard and Ygnacio Valley Road, across the street from the Walnut Creek BART station.
The council is set to discuss the next steps of placing the item on the ballot:
- Place the initiative measure, without alteration, on the ballot before the voters; or
- Adopt the measure as proposed without alteration, at the regular meeting at which the certification of the petition is presented, or within 10 days after it is presented.
The move comes as proponents for the initiative filed with the city clerk on may 4, 2026. By June 26, 2026, they submitted 5,000 valid signatures (out of 7,248 signatures collected) of registered voters within Walnut Creek. The number of valid signatures exceeds the required number of signatures necessary under the Elections Code, which is 4,987 equating to 10 percent of Walnut Creek registered voters.
According to the 9212 report, it concluded that approval of the Initiative would result in minimal immediate impacts to the City, as the Initiative alone does not require redevelopment of the subject property.
If subsequent residential and/or mixed-use development occurs in conformance with the Initiative, the City could benefit from an ongoing annual increase in property tax, property tax in-lieu of vehicle license fees, and retail sales tax revenues ranging from $257,000 to $552,000 attributable to higher assessed property values and new resident spending. Conversely, population growth would increase demand for municipal services, resulting in additional ongoing General Fund and Measure O costs to support City operations in the estimated ranges of $66,000 to $83,000 annually. These costs may include, but are not limited to, arts and recreation and police services
Financial Impacts
According to the 9212 Report, the fiscal impact of the initiative itself would be limited to City staff and legal counsel costs to amend the General Plan, North Downtown Specific Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and Zoning Map with the Initiative provisions, which is estimated to be approximately $250,000.
The City estimates the additional cost for placing the measure on the ballot is estimated to be $30,000 to $35,000.
Passage of the initiative itself does not have ongoing fiscal impacts. However, according to the 9212 Report, if subsequent residential and/or mixed-use development occurs in conformance with the Initiative, impacts could include:
- Ongoing annual increases of property tax, property tax in-lieu of motor vehicle license fees, and retail sales tax revenues ranging from $257,000 to $552,000.
- Ongoing General Fund and Measure O costs ranging from $66,000 to $83,000 annually to support increased Police Department and Arts and Recreation Department costs due to population growth.
- Development of affordable housing units pursuant to the City’s inclusionary housing ordinance or in-lieu fee revenue of approximately $6.4 million to $7.7 million for a 100% market rate project
Timeline for Placing the Initiative on the Ballot
- No later than August 7, 2026 – City Council to pass resolution, formally placing the measure on the November 2026 ballot; this action should include direction regarding the authority to submit a ballot argument in support of the measure and a potential rebuttal argument.
- No later than August 7, 2026 – Deadline to submit ballot measure to Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.
- August 19, 2026 – City Clerk to file primary arguments with the Contra Costa County Elections Department through submission to the City Clerk.
- August 19, 2026 – City Attorney to prepare and submit an impartial analysis, if directed by the City Council.
- August 24, 2026 – Rebuttal arguments must be filed with the Contra Costa County Elections Department through submission to the City Clerk (only for opposing arguments filed).
- November 3, 2026 – Election Day
If You Go
Walnut Creek City Council Meeting
July 21, 2026
6:00 pm
1666 N Main St, Walnut Creek CA
- 6b Agenda Report
- Attachment 1 Initiative
- Attachment 2 9212 Report
- Attachment 3 Draft Resolution to Place Initiative on the Ballot
- Attachment 4 Draft Resolution to Adopt the Initiative
- Attachment 5 Letter Regarding ADUs
Previous
- May 7, 2026 – Walnut Creek Senior Housing Initiative Moves Forward Following Record Signature Effort
- April 21, 2026 – Signature Gathering Begins for Senior Housing Transit Village Near Walnut Creek BART
