WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – Anyone driving past the entrance to Rossmoor lately has probably noticed that a surprisingly large construction project is underway beside the Chevron station.
Readers have certainly been writing in to ask about it!
The fencing, heavy equipment and torn-up pavement occupy a prominent corner of the Rossmoor Shopping Center, directly across from the massive 55-plus community.
So, what is being built?
The answer is a new Taco Bell restaurant with a drive-thru. Read on!
While the construction zone may look large, the restaurant building itself will be relatively compact. Plans approved by the City of Walnut Creek call for a roughly 1,500-square-foot, one-story Taco Bell on a previously undeveloped portion of the shopping center property.
The building will stand approximately 27 feet tall and include indoor service, an outdoor dining patio and a walk-up takeout window.
Why the Construction Area Looks So Big
Much of the work involves more than simply constructing the restaurant building.
The project includes a dual-lane drive-thru, with one lane for customers placing traditional orders and a separate lane intended for mobile-order pickup.
Crews are also reconfiguring parts of the surrounding parking lot, installing new pedestrian pathways, building a trash enclosure and adding more than 5,000 square feet of landscaping.
Four new parking-lot light poles are planned, along with accessible parking and a new stormwater treatment area.
Plans indicate that 35 of the shopping center’s existing parking spaces will be removed. However, the center will still have approximately 502 shared spaces — more than the minimum required by the city.
The Location Was Not Chosen by Accident
The restaurant is being built on the open portion of the shopping center immediately beside the Chevron station, near the corner of Rossmoor Parkway and Tice Valley Boulevard.
That puts it directly across from Rossmoor’s main entrance and close to Safeway, CVS, Starbucks and several other restaurants and services.
The site’s visibility and easy access are likely major attractions for Taco Bell. However, the drive-thru proposal was controversial when it went through Walnut Creek’s approval process.
Some nearby residents raised concerns about traffic, pedestrian safety, litter, noise and late-night activity. Others welcomed the addition of another convenient and relatively inexpensive restaurant.
The Walnut Creek Planning Commission ultimately approved the project unanimously in July 2025.
It Could Stay Open Very Late
The operating plan submitted to the city proposed hours of 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
On Fridays and Saturdays, the drive-thru could remain open until 2 a.m.
The restaurant lobby is expected to close at midnight, meaning late-night customers would use the drive-thru.
Those hours were among the issues that drew objections from some Tice Valley residents during the public review process.
The Project Includes Significant Tree Removal
The plans initially called for removing 13 trees from the construction site, including Brisbane box, Eastern redbud, crape myrtle and London plane trees.
City staff determined that most could be removed to accommodate the development, although two healthy London plane trees required additional consideration. Updated landscaping will surround the building and screen portions of the drive-thru lanes.
The final project will still result in a substantial net loss of trees at the site.
When Will the New Taco Bell Open?
Construction is now visibly underway, but neither Taco Bell nor the city has publicly announced a firm opening date.
Commercial restaurant projects can take several months to complete, particularly when they include extensive utility, drainage, parking and drive-thru work.
The visible activity does confirm, however, that the Rossmoor Taco Bell has moved well beyond the planning stage. Walnut Creek officials confirmed this to the Bay Area Telegraph in an email.
Once completed, it will become one of the most prominent new businesses near the entrance to Rossmoor — and likely one of the latest-open dining options anywhere in Walnut Creek’s Tice Valley area.
We’ll continue to follow this story and share regular updates. Make sure to join our free 925 News newsletter so we can keep you in the loop.
