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Category: Business

  • Public hearing to be held for proposed Starbucks on Auburn Blvd

    Public hearing to be held for proposed Starbucks on Auburn Blvd

    An outline from Google maps roughly shows the area where a Starbucks is proposed to be built on Auburn Boulevard.

    By Mike Hazlip—
    The Citrus Heights Planning Commission this week is set to review a proposal to build a new
    Starbucks at the edge of the city limit.

    The proposal for 8850 Auburn Blvd., is just south of Whyte Avenue and borders the county line between Placer and Sacramento that also serves as northern boundary for the city of Citrus Heights. The applicant is listed as Coastal Star Partners with a West Sacramento address, according to public documents submitted to the commission.

    A new 2,241-square-foot commercial building would be constructed with a two-lane drive thru to house the Starbucks, according to city documents. The layout would also include a 400-square-foot plaza to allow for outdoor seating.

    Just on the other side of the county line in Roseville, the applicant is also proposing a second 2,600-square-foot “quick serve restaurant” with a two-lane drive thru on an adjacent parcel the applicant also owns. Planning Commission documents identify Panda Express as the business that is slated to occupy that building.

    The project aligns with the city’s goal of revitalizing Auburn Boulevard, according to the proposal, with elements that include outdoor seating for Starbucks customers, landscaping, and lighting. Exterior styling will have several different finishes, including stucco, brick siding, and natural teak wood, according to the document. A wall to screen vehicles in the drive thru from Auburn Boulevard is also part of the plans.

    The plans call for the demolition of the 106-square-foot coffee kiosk that was home to Java Detour until that business closed in December of 2022. A portion of an existing commercial building is also slated for removal, plans show. The 1,447-square-foot liquor store would be leveled for additional parking.

    The remaining section of the existing commercial building, currently home to Tea It and Waggin Tails, would be updated so the exterior matches the new Starbucks color palette and materials, according to plans.

    The three existing driveway entrances to the site along Auburn Boulevard would be condensed into one signalized driveway, plans show.Traffic studies included in the report show a new signal light at the main entrance from Auburn Boulevard would be needed to improve vehicle flow. The new traffic signal will be part of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets Project, with the signal being required to be operational before the opening of Starbucks, according to the document.

    The study also recommends new driveway markings for left turning traffic from the site and removal of four parking spaces in front of the Tea It business. Further traffic flow developments on the Roseville side of the development are also recommended in the document.

    Because project improvements to street frontage and traffic flows are impacted by the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets plan, the timeline is set for a 2024 to 2025 timeframe.

    Construction of the drive thru lanes and additional parking will require the removal of 10 trees at the site. Seven of those trees require mitigation measures, the report said.

    The Planning Commission is set to meet at 6 p.m. on May 10 at City Hall to review the project and hold a public hearing. Comments can be made in person, or by emailing planning@citrusheights.net in advance of the meeting. (See agenda)

  • Deadline approaching to vote in 2023 ‘Best of Citrus Heights’ contest

    Inferno Chicken
    File photo, 2021. Owner Naz Salmanyan stands in front of his newly opened Inferno Chicken restaurant in the Marketplace at Birdcage. // M. Hazlip

    Sentinel staff report–
    The deadline is May 12 for community members to vote online for their favorite local businesses and restaurants to win this year’s “Best of Citrus Heights” contest, put on by the local Chamber of Commerce.

    Participants can vote in up to 38 different categories, ranging from “Best Veterinarian and Pet Services,” to “Best Restaurant” and “Best Dentist.” Categories also include best house of worship, car wash, bank, and community organization.

    In the “Best Quick Service Food” category, options include Inferno Chicken, Beach Hut Deli, Togo’s, Crepes & Burgers, Raising Cane’s, and many others. Under “Best Publication,” voters can select between the Citrus Heights Sentinel, the Citrus Heights Messenger, or the Valley Yellow Pages.

    Winners will be announced at a June 13 awards at an awards ceremony.

    Those interested in voting online can visit www.bestofcitrusheights.org.

  • Construction takes shape on small-lot homes near Walmart

    Framing for new townhomes can be seen next to Walmart at 7078 Auburn Blvd., in Citrus Heights. // CH Sentinel

    Sentinel staff report–
    Drivers passing by Walmart on Auburn Boulevard in recent weeks have seen framing for a new townhome project rapidly take shape.

    Development for the .7-acre lot was approved in 2020, with site work beginning early last year. Now, the two-story outline of the homes can be seen.

    Approved plans show the lot was divided into nine parcels, with each parcel 2,345-square-feet in size, along with a roughly quarter-acre common lot for access, guest parking and landscaping. Homes to be built are described in city documents as having an architectural style that is “craftsman in nature,” with each unit slated to have a two-car garage and small, private back yard.

    As previously reported, the 1,500-square-foot, two-story townhomes will each have three bedrooms with two-and-a-half bathrooms. A total of four buildings are planned for the site, with two units per building. Plans call for “stepping back” the second story to make the structure appear smaller from street level.

    Over 50 conditions of approval were detailed out when the townhouse project was approved by the Planning Commission, including the creation of a Home Owners Association (HOA) to maintain the common lot and landscaping. Other conditions include emergency vehicle access and maintenance of the property.

    Shortly after work at the site began in 2022 The Sentinel reported that nearby residents complained to the City Council about contractors tearing down their privacy fence, exposing their rear yards to traffic passing by on Auburn Boulevard. City staff quickly got involved to ensure privacy screening was installed while a new masonry wall was constructed.

  • Citrus Heights Rite Aid store slated to close in May

    Rite Aid store is located at 6661 Auburn Blvd., in Citrus Heights. // CH Sentinel

    The Citrus Heights Rite Aid store near the corner of Auburn Boulevard and Van Maren Lane will be closing on May 8, according to ABC 10.

    The news outlet reported Thursday that a company spokesperson confirmed the store at 6661 Auburn Blvd. would be closing and posted a statement from the company, which said each location is regularly reviewed for its performance.

    “A decision to close a store is one we take very seriously and is based on a variety of factors including business strategy, lease and rent considerations, local business conditions and viability, and store performance,” the statement said in part.

    The closure will be the second Rite Aid store in Citrus Heights to close over the past five years, with a location in the Citrus Town Center closing in 2018. The Rite Aid store at 5409 Sunrise Blvd. will remain open.

  • New subdivision proposed on large, vacant Citrus Heights lot

    A proposal to subdivide a vacant lot at 7401 Mariposa Avenue has been received by the city. // CH Sentinel

    By Mike Hazlip—
    A 2.3-acre vacant lot along Mariposa Avenue could become a new six-home subdivision, according to a proposal submitted to the city.

    The proposal shows up to six lots at 7401 Mariposa Ave., located near Old Auburn Road. Five of the lots would face Mariposa Avenue, with the sixth lot accessible from the parking lot of Citrus Heights Fellowship church, a site plan shows.

    Each of the five lots facing Mariposa Avenue would be around 11,000-square feet, with a much larger sixth lot of just under an acre in size located behind the other lots.

    Economic Development and Community Engagement Director Meghan Huber said in an email response to The Sentinel that the applicant has not yet submitted any architectural plans for the homes, but she expects the final build will not exceed current standards. Those standards allow for structures with a height limit of 30 feet, Huber said. The total square footage of the homes is also yet to be determined, she said.

    Plans are currently under review, with the most recent resubmittal received by the city on April 4, according to the city’s website. A variety of trees and landscaping plants are proposed along Mariposa Avenue, plans show. (See proposed parcel map split)

    Comments on the proposal can be submitted to the city’s Planning Division via email or phone, with contact information posted on the city’s website.

  • Off-road specialty store in Citrus Heights closes up shop

    The parking lot of Hunters 4×4 is seen vacant with signage removed at 7521 Cook Ave., in Citrus Heights. // CH Sentinel

    Sentinel staff report–
    A 4×4 shop on Cook Avenue near Auburn Boulevard has apparently shuttered its doors, with the parking lot empty, signage removed and no activity visible.

    Signage for Hunters 4×4 has been gone at the location at 7521 Cook Ave. since at least March, and the interior of the building is largely vacant with only a dim light on inside overnight. A phone call to the business goes to the voicemail for Patriot Motorsport Adventures, which appears to be an ATV rental business in Idaho.

    An email to the business last month went un-returned, and social media pages show no updates since August 2022. Posts dating back to 2016 indicate the business was in operation at the location for at least seven years.

    Hunters 4×4 offered installation of lift kits, custom fabrication and other off-road accessories, according to its Instagram page.

  • Popular roller rink in Citrus Heights marks 50 years in business

    Sunrise Rollerland competition, roller skating
    Sunrise Rollerland is located at 6001 Sunrise Vista Drive in Citrus Heights. // CH Sentinel

    *This story has been updated with clarification from Ken Neutz on 50th anniversary plans.

    By Sara Beth Williams– Sunrise Rollerland first opened its doors in 1973, offering skating to the community of Citrus Heights.

    The roller rink has seen significant changes throughout its five decades, including the rise of the Sunrise Mall and Birdcage Walk. But some things have remained the same over the years, like paper applications, the King Arthur-themed décor, and skaters you can count on seeing every single week.

    Gail Sauer is one of the regulars who has skated in an morning adult skating session since 1984. In an interview, Sauer said she began skating at age 40 and has had many skating friends pass away over the years, but she still skates at the same session every week.

    “I think right now there’s more adult skating,” Sauer said. “After the pandemic, now they want to get out and do something.”

    Located behind the Sunrise Mall at 6001 Sunrise Vista Drive, Sunrise Rollerland was opened by retired Air Force Major Lloyd Neutz and his wife Marian.

    In an interview with The Sentinel, Assistant Manager Morgan Neutz, granddaughter to Lloyd Neutz, recalled spending much of her childhood at the rink with her grandparents.

    “It was so busy in the ‘90s,” Neutz said, adding that business slowed down during the 2008 recession and again at the end of 2019.

    The rink shut down in March of 2020, but Neutz said Covid relief financial assistance enabled them to keep a small group of employees hired on to help clean, update and maintain the entire rink during 2020.

    “After Covid, skating exploded,” Neutz said. “I’d never seen it busier.”

    In honor of the 50th anniversary, the roller rink plans to make commemorative shirts available to former employees. Events are expected to ramp up in late summer and into fall.

    Updates are posted regularly on the rink’s Facebook page, with a March 17 post calling for community members to submit old photos and pictures documenting their experiences at the rink over the years.

    Sunrise Rollerland currently offers regular skate sessions for adults, and kids throughout the week. The rink also offers weekly lessons, birthday party packages, and hosts artistic and speed skating teams.

  • The local housing market is hot again, but it’s not what you think

    By Mike Hazlip—
    The Sacramento region’s housing market has gotten competitive again, but a local real estate expert says it’s far from normal.

    Whereas a normal spring season would see many more buyers and many more sellers,  Sacramento real estate appraiser and blogger Ryan Lundquist says low demand meeting low supply during a typical seasonal uptick in the market is what’s behind the increasing competition this year.

    “The issue today is we’ve had lower demand since buyers have stepped back from the market due to affordability,” Lundquist said in an April 5 post on his blog, Sacramento Appraisal Blog. “But now sellers have also stepped back, and it’s caused low demand and low supply to meet.”

    “If we had a normal number of listings right now, the market would feel way different,” Lundquist said. “It’s frankly striking to see competition like this in the midst of a market with so many missing buyers.”

    Lundquist says volume has been worse than 2007 in the Sacramento region. Currently, he says there are more pending sales than active listings and there is less than one month of housing supply in Sacramento County. Historically, the National Association of Realtor’s says a six month’s supply is typically associated with moderate price appreciation, whereas lower levels of supply “tend to push prices up more rapidly.”

    A Sentinel review of current real estate listings in Citrus Heights shows around 30 single-family home listings, ranging from $389,000 for a three-bedroom home on a quarter-acre lot, to $797,000 for a 3,200-square-foot home on nearly three-quarters of an acre on Highland Avenue.

    What does all this mean for the trend of home prices in 2023? As always, Lundquist says he doesn’t have a crystal ball and focuses on the data he can see.

    “All that said, one thing I’m hoping to communicate here is the importance of recognizing that intense competition doesn’t automatically mean early 2022 rapid appreciation,” the appraiser said. “We are in such a weird market right now with subdued supply and subdued demand, and we’re going to have to wait to see what happens with prices.”

  • Walgreens store left with zero shopping carts after thefts

    The Walgreens store at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Antelope Road has had all of its shopping carts stolen. // CH Sentinel

    By Mike Hazlip—
    A Walgreens store in Citrus Heights is in the process of replacing shopping carts that have all been stolen.

    An employee at the Walgreens store at Sunrise Boulevard and Antelope Road confirmed with The Sentinel this week that the store has had all of its shopping carts stolen. The employee, who could not be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said missing carts are a problem for many stores, and that new carts are on order.

    One shopper reached out to The Sentinel and expressed frustration at the lack of carts at the store, saying she is disabled and needs a cart to be able to shop. A visit by Sentinel staff to the store on Monday found the shopping cart storage area completely empty.

    Citrus Heights Police Lt. Michael Wells said police do not have any shopping cart thefts reported at the 7787 Sunrise Blvd. location in recent months.

    “That doesn’t mean that the thefts haven’t occurred, but they may not have been reported,” Wells said.

    Theft of shopping carts has been an ongoing problem in Citrus Heights, with the city taking action last year to curb blight associated with carts left all over the city. In October, the Citrus Heights City Council passed an ordinance requiring businesses to have a shopping cart management plan, with identifying labels attached to each cart.

    The city’s General Services Director, Regina Cave, told the council in October that the city’s retrieval service collects about 900 carts per year, with an additional 1,176 carts on average being retrieved from within the Sunrise MarketPlace business district, which has its own retrieval program.

    From last year: Citrus Heights passes ordinance to curb shopping cart blight; drops hefty fines

    Walgreens location at Sunrise Boulevard and Antelope Road has been the subject of an ongoing issue related to debris in the parking lot and surrounding sidewalk, an Aug. 18 report by The Sentinel shows.

    In an email to The Sentinel in August, Citrus Heights Police Services Supervisor Debra Nathan confirmed officers had responded to the location multiple times. Most individuals leave the area by the time officers arrive, but police did make one arrest for shoplifting, Nathan said.

    “[T]he Walgreens management team and corporate office have been cooperative and were quick to respond and remove the trash and debris left behind on their property,” she said.

  • What’s happening with that old gas station on Auburn Blvd?

    A formerly vacated gas station on Auburn Boulevard is undergoing a remodel. // CH Sentinel

    By Mike Hazlip—
    New activity can be seen at a long-vacant gas station in Citrus Heights, with excavation and permit activity occurring in recent months.

    Construction fencing along with several mounds of excavated dirt and asphalt can be seen at the site, located at 8244 Auburn Blvd. Slow progress at the high-visibility location has prompted questions from residents about what’s going on.

    In an email Monday, City Economic Development and Community Engagement Director Meghan Huber told The Sentinel that a building permit for remodel of the gas station’s convenience store was filed in November.

    Over the past year, boards on the convenience store’s windows and doors have been removed, and the exterior of the building has been painted white. Gas station pumps appear to have also been pulled up.

    The location’s owner, Moe Alnaggar did not return a request for comment. Alnaggar previously told The Sentinel he was waiting on Sacramento County Environmental Management Department and the Health Department for approval. He said the county asked for adjustments to the plans that were initially submitted Oct. 2021.

    Alnaggar told The Sentinel last year that he was eager to make progress on the project, citing problems with homelessness, drug use, and vandalism at the site.

    The property has long-been a source of complaints from residents for bringing a blighted appearance to the high-traffic boulevard. Alnaggar said previously that he understands resident’s concern about the property and expressed hope to open a new gas station once the required plans and permits were approved.

    A Jan. 27 report by The Sentinel shows plans for the site were pending approval. The property was listed for sale before being taken off the market in July 2021.