#Love Lafayette Invites Questions...Here They Are

LAMORINDA, CA — City officials opened a public feedback channel on Facebook, asking Lafayette residents what questions matter were on their mind.

Literally, staff asked: What's on your mind, Lafayette? #AskUsAnything about City services & programs. #LoveLafayette

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They quickly received answers including questions about long-vacant storefronts, traffic safety concerns at freeway access points, and visible maintenance problems in public spaces. More accurately, some responses were questions, others were not.

One resident focused first on downtown conditions along Lafayette, arguing that empty buildings along Mt. Diablo Boulevard—including long-shuttered bank space at Moraga Road and Mt. Diablo Boulevard—signal economic stagnation despite the city’s broader development goals.

Another resident highlighted multiple dormant properties, including former retail sites and a city-owned parcel, and pressed officials on why redevelopment has stalled even as housing plans identify those locations for potential future use.

City staff responded on Love Lafayette by pointing to the certified Housing Element as the framework guiding future residential growth, while emphasizing that actual development depends on private owners and outside developers.

Staff noted ongoing activity, including a commercial reuse application at the former bank site and prospective interest in other downtown parcels, while acknowledging the city does not directly control most of the properties in question.

They also referenced coordination with the Chamber of Commerce as part of broader economic support efforts.

Another comment shifted attention to traffic safety at the eastbound Lafayette freeway off-ramp, where residents warned of limited sightlines and near-miss conditions when vehicles attempt turns during peak congestion.

Staff clarified that the ramp falls under Caltrans jurisdiction, directing concerns to the state agency responsible for maintenance and design.

Other residents raised maintenance complaints, including overgrown weeds at intersections and concerns about dead or hazardous trees along Mt. Diablo Boulevard. They were urged to submit detailed reports through the city’s maintenance request system so crews can investigate and prioritize field response.