 | | | BEFORE: Plans received July 11, 2011
| | | | | | Representatives of Merrill Gardens recently brought revised designs for a mixed use development with 72 assisted living apartments, a 17-bed memory care facility and about 6,000 square feet of retail space along Mt. Diablo near Second Street to the Design Review Commission.
Looking for input on the proposed modern prairie-style design, the developer received generally positive remarks from the Design Review Commissioners. They have "substantially responded to comments and direction resulting in a better project," notes a staff report.
Six existing parcels, including the former Keenan Heinz shop and Yan's restaurant along with four other parcels, are being consolidated to form the 1.35 acre site that will accommodate 74 underground parking spaces below street level retail and the retirement facility.
Discussion at the Design Review meeting focused on the courtyard, landscape, street frontage and parking. Merrill Gardens would like to incorporate diagonal street parking similar to what's in front of the Mercantile building. The Design Review Commissioners were pleased with the project and forwarded a recommendation of approval to the Planning Commission, as well as the Circulation Commission, to investigate if diagonal parking is feasible and if so, how to make it work while incorporating it into the design.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA