Updated Mar. 9, 10:26 a.m. —
Beginning with a Planning Commission hearing on Wednesday, a final decision is set to take place this month on the proposal to move city hall and allow Dignity Health to construct a 68,000-square-feet medical office building (MOB) in its place.
Leading up to a scheduled March 26 vote by the city council, planning commissioners will take up the proposal on March 11, with a council “study session” set for the following day. The commission will also make a recommendation to the council as to whether it should approve, or deny, the recently published final version of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the proposal.
[Related: GALLERY: Artistic Images of Proposed New City Hall]
The Planning Commission held an initial hearing in January on a draft version of the EIR, where several complaints were made about increased traffic, noise and an “inadequate” environmental review. Although the commission’s role did not include responding to comments received during the hearing, the final version of the EIR is required to have responses to each comment received during the 45-day draft review period, which ended January 26.
[Read the final version of the report here: http://www.citrusheights.net/836/Environmental-Impact-Report]
Discussion of the proposal came about last year when City officials said Dignity Health proposed a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for Citrus Heights to get a new hall for a net cost of about $5 million, after 15 years. Due to changes in the new $22 million hall’s proposed location, that net cost is now estimated at $8.9 million, according to Monica Alejandrez, assistant to the city manager.
Cost benefits to the City would come primarily from income brought in by the proposed Dignity Health lease, as well as from projected energy and repair savings coming from a more efficient new city hall building, according to City Manager Henry Tingle.
The city council had previously selected a location on Antelope Road last year as the “preferred site” for a new hall, but council members voted unanimously to switch plans to a closer, larger parcel that came available late last year. The new 10-acre “Stock Property” enjoys greater public support, and is located next to the Post Office — just several hundred feet from where the existing hall sits on Fountain Square Drive.
[Related: New City Hall Site Option Draws Support, While Medical Building Criticized]
Upcoming March 2015 meetings:
March 11, 7 p.m. — The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the final EIR, design review permit, and associated actions. Ultimately, the Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council to either approve or deny the final EIR, design review permits, and other associated actions related to the proposed Medical Office Building and City Hall Project.
March 12, 5 p.m. — A study session will be held by the city council to discuss the two draft ground leases related to the proposals.
March 26, 7 p.m. — A public hearing and vote will be held by the city council to consider approving the final EIR, design review permit “and other associated actions related to the proposals.” The council will also decide whether or not to authorize the city manager to enter into the proposed ground leases associated with proposals.
*All meetings are scheduled to take place in the Citrus Heights City Council Chambers, at 7117 Greenback Ln.
