Sentinel staff report–
Planning commissioners in Citrus Heights are scheduled to hold three separate public hearings this coming Wednesday, with proposals including a plan to allow additional restaurants on Auburn Boulevard, a subdivision proposal at the new Capital Nursery Plaza, and a proposed 60-foot-high Verizon cell tower disguised as a tree on Verner Avenue.
Proposed cell tower
The first hearing on schedule for the Sept. 13 meeting at city hall is the new cell tower proposed at 7000 Verner Ave. in the Foothill Golf Center, situated near Interstate 80. Planning commission documents indicate Verizon Wireless has identified a “significant gap” in coverage in the area and is seeking a use permit in order to construct a 60-foot “stealth” cell tower, disguised as a pine tree in the golf park. The property is owned by the Sunrise Recreation and Park District, which supports the proposal — while other alternatives for “collocating” the cell tower on an existing utility pole or structure were determined to either be unsuitable or the property owners would not agree to the proposal.
A staff report included in the planning commission meeting packet recommends approval of the cell tower project, along with the imposition of 23 conditions that include fire access requirements, a prohibition of advertising posted on the tower, and a requirement that noise be kept under 55 decibels at all times. The meeting packet also indicates that notices about the proposal were mailed to property owners within 500 feet of the project site, but no comments were received in response and no comments were received from the area’s neighborhood association, Citrus Heights Area Number Three (CHANT).
Proposed increased restaurant uses
California C&S Properties, which owns Stock Ranch Plaza at 7000 Auburn Blvd., is seeking to increase the number of future restaurants allowed once the vacant pads are developed in front of Costco and Walmart. Along with seeking approval for a modified traffic loop design to address “ongoing circulation challenges,” C&S is proposing to develop the site with up to 15,000 square feet of fast-casual restaurants and an additional 13,000 square feet of fast food users.
A total of nine new buildings are proposed to be constructed at the site, ranging in size from a 2,300-square-feet restaurant along Auburn Boulevard to various other buildings that range from 5,000 to 8,500 square feet. Another large 34,000-square-feet building is also shown on the proposed site plan, located on the eastern side of the existing entry road in front of Walmart. It was reduced in size from an original 40,000-square-feet due to parking reconfiguration.
Related: Will the empty lots in front of Costco ever be developed?
The site’s leasing agent, Jon Schultz, previously confirmed nine pads are to be developed and leased at the site, but said he couldn’t make “any particular announcements” about which businesses or restaurants would be opening at the site. He said development has been on hold, pending approval of the modified traffic design — which includes an additional four-way stop on the traffic loop.
If the latest modifications are approved by the planning commission on Wednesday, the site could likely fit at least four or five new restaurants in addition to other retail uses.
According to the planning division, no comments from nearby neighborhood associations were received about the proposal. A staff report included in the planning commission meeting packet recommends approval of the proposed modifications, along with the imposition of 11 conditions that include future review of site circulation by city officials once 20,000 square feet of buildings have been constructed.
Proposed Capital Nursery Plaza subdivision
In an effort to sell off portions of the new Capital Nursery Plaza at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Madison Avenue, a developer is proposing to split the six-building plaza into a total of six parcels. The Plaza is already split into four parcels, so the modification would create two new parcels by splitting existing parcels that currently have multiple buildings on them.
A staff report recommends commissioners approve a tentative map to allow the subdivision, along with eight conditions that include requirements to provide separate sewer lines and utility connections for each new parcel. According to the planning division, no comments were received from the Birdcage Heights Neighborhood Association, which represents the area the proposal lies within.
The planning commission will meet at 7 p.m. on Sept. 13 at city hall, located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive. Public hearings will be held following the administration of the oath of office to newly appointed Commissioner Porsche Middleton.
Document: see the full agenda packet for the Sept. 13 meeting
