Politics & Government

A Detailed Look At Safeway's Proposed Development

Walnut Creek Design Review Commission hears a presentation of Safeway's plans to build a retail center at Ygnacio Valley Road and Oak Grove Road

The Design Review Commission got a detailed look Wednesday night at a proposed 202,000-square-foot retail center in eastern Walnut Creek.

The Orchards at Walnut Creek is being proposed by Safeway's property development division.

It would be built on 25 grassy acres on the northwest corner of Ygnacio Valley Road and Oak Grove Road.

The Orchards would include a 55,000-square-foot Safeway store in the back center of the property with a parking lot on its roof.

The new store is across Ygnacio Valley Road from the Safeway store in the Encina Grande shopping center. The lease for that store is expiring in a few years and Safeway officials said they will close that facility when the lease expires if the new Safeway is built.

The new Safeway store will be more than twice the square footage of the Encina store. Safeway officials said the new store will have wider aisles, more efficient checkout and a larger selection of items. 

The Orchards project will also have senior housing in its northwest corner as well as retail shops in the center and along Oak Grove Road.

A fitness center would be in the center with the shops. An orchard is proposed for the northeast corner.

Entrances are proposed on both Ygnacio Valley and Oak Grove Road.

Safeway representative Deborah Karbo told the commissioners they have eliminated a proposed parking lot in the southeast corner and have added some tree-lined paths. There is also abundant parking for bicycles.

"We feel it's very pedestrian-oriented," said Karbo.

The project also has a central open space area with a children's play area. That feature would not have swings or slides but rather a "kids creek" and "play mounds" with boulders for children to climb and play.

You can see Safeway's latest site plans for the center on this web page.

The project still needs to go before the Planning Commission and City Council before it receives final approval.


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