Who let the dogs out? Not Brentwood council members, who on Tuesday, pulled back the reins to allow Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar to build as planned in the city’s Sand Creek Crossing shopping center.
The restaurant’s design plans, which include an outdoor patio for diners and dogs, had earned the Planning Commission’s unanimous approval in mid-August but only with some expensive conditions that the developer, LRG Investors, would not agree to. Developer representatives made it clear they would walk away and look at other Bay Area locations.
In an attempt to work out an agreement, Councilmember Jovita Mendoza asked the Brentwood City Council to reevaluate the commission’s decision and consider the restaurant’s new proposals to fix any problems.
“It’s been a long path for the Lazy Dog Restaurant to come to the city of Brentwood,” Jared Taylor, a representative for Lazy Dog, told the council. “That’s actually a goal we’ve been working on, to bring a Lazy Dog restaurant to your city for years.”
Known for its comfort food, the Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar was first approved in 2019 to be built at the Streets of Brentwood shopping center, but those plans fizzled after a problem arose with the property owner.
Then last month, armed with a new streamlined design, developers proposed a slightly larger Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar at the southeast corner of Sand Creek Road and State Route 4. They also requested to subdivide the 5.3-acre property, which is owned by the State Route 4 Bypass Authority, using the northern 2.8 acres for the restaurant development.
The new proposal calls for a 9,089-square-foot restaurant with a 1,508-square-foot patio as well as a 764-square-foot waiting area with stone tables and benches along with lots of landscaping, including 65 shade trees and 176 parking stalls. The restaurant also would boast a 31-foot main entrance tower, and diners would be able to bring their dogs and eat on the outside patio if they wish.
Commissioners, though, questioned some design aspects, most importantly noting that equipment on the rooftop might be visible if the parapet — a protective wall — is not high enough, something staff planners and an architect’s earlier review had also noted.
The developer meanwhile said that raising the height of the parapet and tower would “raise the cost of the building substantially,” city planner Miguel Contreas said.
Applicant Brian Nicholson with LRG Investors said the company had done a study that showed the rooftop equipment would be hidden. But if a problem arose during construction, they could add screening around it to keep it out of sight.
Taylor said the building design was similar to others done across the country.
“We’re opening seven stores a year currently and the rooftop equipment is really brought onboard to the building so it’s away from the parapets,” he said.
Landscaping will also be an important element with the Jackson Hole, Wyoming-style building.
“The customer experience really starts when you step onto the curb and you’re immersed in the landscape surrounding the building,” Taylor said. “This is a building that’s going to really pop architecturally, especially when combined with the landscaping.”
During the council discussion, Mendoza said she understood how the restaurant had its own brand and didn’t want to detour from the main design plans nor change the look of the windows, which commissioners had requested.
“We’re confident you’re not going to see it (the rooftop equipment),” Taylor said, alluding to his belief no additional coverup screening will be needed.
Vice Mayor Susannah Meyer asked Taylor about the restaurant’s new design brand compared with what had been proposed in the past.
“There’s absolutely been an evolution of the brand’s exterior architecture,” he said. “We’ve seen it in the signs. That was a big takeback for a lot of cities. These signs aren’t the same as we’ve seen before. There’s been changes in the trellises around the building. There’s been changes in the colors. There’s been changes in the design.”
Taylor added that despite the exterior changes, everything inside the building will be familiar.
Several residents spoke at the meeting, all echoing their support for the restaurant.
“I want to acknowledge and recognize the importance and value that this type of growth can bring to the city,” Denise Duran said. “It helps with jobs and creates opportunities. It’s creating yet another place for people to eat when they go to our fantastic soccer sunset complex that’s coming eventually, so there’s a lot of opportunity.”
Before the vote, which was unanimous, Mayor Joel Bryant also thanked the company for coming back to the table and said new conditions quelled his concerns about the building’s appearance.
“I also agree that you have gone above and beyond to bring this project to our city, and I appreciate it,” he said.