By Sara Beth Williams–
After previous public opposition, the Planning Commission is holding a second hearing on the request to subdivide a vacant 2.3-acre parcel of land at 7401 Mariposa Ave.
The applicant is requesting approval to subdivide a 2.3-acre lot at the corner of Mariposa Avenue and Church Lane into five residential lots, with the smallest measuring just over 10,000 square feet and the largest exceeding 37,000 square feet according to the city.
The subdivision would take up 16 parking spaces along Church Lane, plans show. Currently, no development is proposed, according to a staff report. Any future development would need to abide by all current city zoning regulations.
Neighboring residents, including those from an adjacent church, voiced opposition to the idea in a Jan. 14 Planning Commission meeting, with some saying they were initially told by the new property owner that only two or three homes would be built with the loss of only two parking spaces.
Citrus Heights Fellowship, located at 7405 Mariposa Ave, recently sold the vacant lot to the new owner, but the church’s facilities manager said that the new property owner changed the plans.
The Commission voted 6-1 in January to table the item, with Commissioner Oleg Shishko recusing himself from the matter. City Attorney Ryan Jones informed the audience that Shishko lives within 500 feet of the proposed development.
Since the January meeting, Planning Commission staff conducted further research into the number of parking spots that would be lost, according to the agenda packet, which was initially a contested part of the project plans.
The Planning Commission meeting will be held Wednesday, April 24 at City Hall, beginning at 6 p.m. Those interested in providing public comment can do so in person at the meeting or may email planning@citrusheights.net. Each written comment will be read aloud by the secretary. Public comments are limited to three minutes each.
Read the full Planning Commission agenda packet here.
Editor’s Note: The publisher of The Sentinel lives within 500 feet of the proposed subdivision project. In an effort to maintain objectivity, staff who do not live near the project were intentionally assigned to and independently edited this article.
