Why Can't Walnut Creek Build 3 Bedroom Apartments with a Playground?

Walnut Creek's proposed apartment building on Botelho Drive lacks family-friendly features like three-bedroom units and a sunlit playground, forcing developers to rely on state density bonus laws to make projects financially viable. The author argues that outdated zoning constraints—particularly minimum parking requirements designed for human-driven cars—force inefficient "double loaded corridor" designs that limit natural light, ventilation, and unit diversity, contrasting this with denser, more livable apartment designs in Copenhagen that offer varied unit sizes and better amenities. The author calls on the city to modernize its design standards to enable more affordable family housing and improved livability.