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Project Title: |
Permit Extension for the Glen at Heather Farms Project |
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County Files: |
CDMS20-00007, CDGP20-00001, CDRZ20-03255, CDDP20-03018, and CDLP20-02038 |
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Applicant: |
Loewke Planning Associates, Inc. |
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Owner: |
Diablo Glen Walnut Creek CCRC LLC |
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Zoning General Plan: |
P-1 Planned Unit District RM Residential Medium Density |
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Site Address/Location: |
850 Seven Hills Ranch Road in the Walnut Creek area of unincorporated Contra Costa County (APNs: 172-080-007, 172-150-012) |
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Project Planner: |
Syd Sotoodeh, Senior Planner; (925) 655-2877; syd.sotoodeh@dcd.cccounty.us |
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Staff Recommendation: |
Approve (See section II for full recommendation) |
I. PROJECT SUMMARY
The applicant requests a two (2) year extension of the period of time for filing a parcel map, to November 22, 2027, for the Glen at Heather Farms project, consisting of two parcels approximately 25 and 5 acres in area, that was approved under Minor Subdivision CDMS20-00007.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Department of Conservation and Development, Community Development Division (CDD) recommends that the County Planning Commission GRANT the permit extension to extend the period of time for filing a parcel map by two (2) years to November 22, 2027.
III. BACKGROUND
The Glen at Heather Farms project (formerly known as the Speiker Senior Continuing Care Retirement Community project) includes a Tentative Map for a two parcel Minor Subdivision of an approximately 30-acre site located at 850 Seven Hills Ranch Road northeast of Homestead Avenue, north of Kinross Drive, and west of North San Carlos Drive in the Walnut Creek area of unincorporated Contra Costa County. In addition to the Minor Subdivision, approval was granted for a General Plan amendment, Rezone, Final Development Plan, and Land Use permit (County File Nos. CDGP20-00001, CDRZ20-03255, CDDP20-03018, and CDLP20-02038) for development of the parcels, including construction of a new retirement and continuing care residential community and a health center with associated site improvements. The project was considered by the County Planning Commission at a public hearing held on October 26, 2022. After taking public testimony, the Commission voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors not approve the project or certify the environmental impact report (EIR) prepared for the project. The matter was subsequently heard by the Board of Supervisors on November 29, 2022. In their report to the Board of Supervisors, CDD staff included responses to eight primary issues raised by the Commission and recommended that the Board of Supervisors certify the EIR and approve the project. Following the hearing, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the project as recommended by staff and to certify the EIR. The Tentative Map approval was valid for a period of three years and expired on November 29, 2025. A request for an extension of two (2) years for filing the parcel map was received on November 24, 2025.
IV. DISCRETIONARY TIME EXTENSIONS AND SPECIAL EXTENSIONS
A. Discretionary Time Extension: The Subdivision Map Act allows for local jurisdictions to grant up to a maximum of six (6) additional years of discretionary extensions to file the final map upon request from the applicant and prior to expiration of the approved tentative map (Government Code Section 66452.6(e)). County Code Section 94-2.610 allows up to a three (3) year extension by the advisory agency which originally approved the tentative map upon request by the subdivider prior to expiration of the approved tentative map. A tentative map for the Glen at Heather Farms project was approved on November 29, 2022. The tentative map approval was valid for a period of three years and expired on November 29, 2025. Prior to the expiration date, a request for an extension of two (2) years for filing the parcel map was received on November 24, 2025. To date, no discretionary extensions have been granted. Therefore, pursuant to County Code Section 94-2.610 and Government Code Section 66452.6(e), the tentative map is eligible to be extended two (2) years, to November 29, 2027, as requested by the applicant. A total of six (6) years of discretionary extensions is possible under the Subdivision Map Act.
B. Special Statutory Extensions Granted by State Legislature: Based on the approval date of November 29, 2025, the tentative map is not eligible for special statutory extensions as granted by the State legislature through the Subdivision Map Act.
V. CURRENT EXTENSION REQUEST
On November 24, 2025, the applicant requested an extension of the filing period for the approved tentative map for up to two years beyond the expiration date of November 29, 2025, to enable the filing of a parcel map for the Glen at Heather Farm project. Pursuant to County Code Section 94-2.610, approval of this extension will extend the date for filing the final map to November 29, 2027. According to the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act (Section 6645.6(e)), up to four (4) additional years of discretionary time extension for the filing of the parcel map may be requested in the future. This requested time extension also extends the expiration of the General Plan amendment, Rezone, Final Development Plan, and Land Use permit (County File Nos. CDGP20-00001, CDRZ20-03255, CDDP20-03018, and CDLP20-02038). Those uses as allowed by the permit have been established through a condition of approval (COA) compliance review and issuance of grading and building permits. The project proponent continues to actively work in good faith on compliance with the conditions of approval and development of the site.
VI. CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the County Planning Commission approve the extension to file the parcel map by two (2) years to November 29, 2027.