CineArts Getting Darker As Development Advances

The Pleasant Hill Architectural Review Commission is the next step for the development of the south end of the Crossroads at Pleasant Hill Shopping Center — after a 6-1 approval by the Planning Commission Tuesday night.

Commissioner Jim Bonato voted no.

Last night's commission meeting was greeted by protesters making the case to retain the area's arthouse cinema, the CineArts Dome. The dome would be deflated with the final approval of the shopping center's south end development that would add a large Dick's Sporting Goods store. See the updates on the "Save Independent Film and the CineArts Dome in Pleasant Hill" Facebook page.

Tuesday night's approval included some revisions, said Pleasant Hill planner Troy Fujimoto. These include landscaping, parking and sign changes. The commission approved a 35-foot-high pylon sign visible as drivers whiz by on I-680 and the Monument Boulevard off-ramp. This is the same height as two signs at the north end of the Crossroads, said Fujimoto.

The applicant is SyWest Development LLC of San Rafael. It is seeking to demolish the existing theater building and replace it with a two-story retail building, plus renovate and enlarge the former Bally's building.

The Architectural Review Commission has a public hearing at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 4 in the Large Community Room, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill.