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  • City planner talks about living in Citrus Heights, and her 6-minute commute

    By Mike Hazlip—
    In a weekly “Meet Me Monday” series that began broadcasting last year on the city’s social media channels, the city’s associate planner, Alison Bermudez, talked about what its like living in Citrus Heights and working for the city.

    As an employee working in the city’s Planning Department, Bermudez works with developers seeking to create new projects in Citrus Heights.

    “We work with new projects coming in,” she said highlighting new housing, commercial, and redevelopment projects. “We’re a pretty built out city so we have a lot of redevelopment and reformatting and reuse of existing space.”

    Bermudez is a resident of Citrus Heights and says she has seen the city go through several changes over the years. She has worked for the city since 2000, just a few years after incorporation.

    “I do live here in the community,” she said, responding to a question about what she enjoys about her job. “Certainly not a requirement to work here, but it is very nice and convenient so my commute is about six minutes so that’s great for me personally.”

    Although Citrus Heights has little undeveloped land left, Bermudez says the city is still relatively new. She looks back with pride at the efforts made in the early years of the city to form its own jurisdiction after separating from Sacramento County.

    “We had to start from scratch, start from the beginning, and so its taken a long time,” she said. “We’ve done some great things in our short tenure and its been really prideful to be a part of that and see the changes and introduce new things to the community that those opportunities didn’t exist before.”

    Bermudez highlighted the Mitchell Village development and a pre-approved accessory dwelling unit program as projects she is most proud to see realized. She estimates using pre-approved plans can save residents as much as $6,000 in permits and fees.

    Related: Citrus Heights promotes permit-ready ADU’s as way to increase housing supply

    “We have a lot of people that live in the community for a long time and so its a great opportunity for people to be able to continue to live here,” she said, highlighting benefits to family members. “We want people to remain in our community and not move on to some of the newer developments they find in surrounding communities.

    As a former volunteer with area schools when her children were young, Bermudez says it is important to be involved with the community. She said there are enough organizations in Citrus Heights that anyone can find a cause that suits their passion.

    “There’s so many social and service groups in our community that’s great if someone could just find a little bit of time, look at their own passion and find a way to give back a little bit,” she says. “It really does make a difference in the community.”

  • New 50,000-square-foot sports club planned at Citrus Heights retail center

    New 50,000-square-foot sports club planned at Citrus Heights retail center

    The Sunrise Village shopping center in Citrus Heights will soon be home to a new 50,000-square-foot sports club, according to a spokesman for the property owner.

    By Thomas J. Sullivan–
    The Sunrise Village shopping center on the northwest corner of Madison Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard in Citrus Heights will reportedly soon be home to a new 50,000-square-foot sports club.

    According to leasing materials, City Sports Club, which is operated by an Irvine-based corporation that also operates the LA Fitness chain of health clubs, will occupy a large portion of the existing center at 5425 Sunrise Blvd.

    Also on The Sentinel: Studio Movie Grill moving forward with planned 2020 opening in Citrus Heights

    A spokesperson for the center’s landlord, Merlone Geier Partners, could not be reached Wednesday, but a representative for the landlord told the Sacramento Business Journal last week that City Sports will take up several existing spaces, including one vacant spot and also spaces currently occupied by Tuesday Morning and Joann fabrics stores.

    “We will be building a new building to relocate and expand Jo-Ann’s,” Merlone Geier’s managing director Gary Muljat told The Journal.

    According to the Journal, Muljat said Tuesday Morning will be leaving Sunrise Village, while Joann fabrics appears to be relocating several spaces to the north in the same center. As previously reported, a new Tuesday Morning store is slated to open soon at 7255 Greenback Ln.

    Also on The Sentinel: Massive housing project in Citrus Heights sold to new developer

    Kathilynn Carpenter, executive director for the Sunrise MarketPlace business improvement district, said she is looking forward to the new sports center.

    “This follows a trend of centers diversifying from strictly retail uses,” said Carpenter in an email. “It’s a great use and will draw a lot of people to the center and to the District.”

    City Sports’ website lists 15 Bay Area locations, but the Citrus Heights location would be the first in the Sacramento area. The fitness chain features group fitness classes, exercise equipment, and basketball and racquetball courts.

    Alison Bermudez, with the city’s planning division, said Thursday that Merlone Geier is currently working with the city on extensive remodeling and redevelopment plans for the aging Sunrise Village shopping center. She said final plans are expected to be heard by the city’s Planning Commission in January.

    *Editor’s note: The Sentinel will be publishing a followup story once more information is confirmed on future plans for the shopping center.

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  • Want to convert a garage or build a tiny home in your backyard? It’s now easier

    By Thomas J. Sullivan–
    Homeowners seeking to add a secondary dwelling on their property are finding it easier to do so, thanks to some changes in state law and city zoning codes that were adopted as a way to address the state’s housing crisis.

    Secondary dwellings and other forms of independent living units, now both called “accessory dwelling units” or ADUs, are either detached or attached to a primary residential structure and provide permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. ADUs can also provide supplemental income to the property owner.

    “Most (ADUs) are ‘in-law’ type units designed for additional older family members who would be living in the residence,” Citrus Heights Associate City Planner Alison Bermudez told The Sentinel.

    “We’ve seen at least a dozen permits issued so far since the program began,” Bermudez said, compared with an average of less than one per year prior the city’s ordinance changing a year-and-a-half ago. “We’re likely to see more applicants as residents learn more about the ordinance and what it allows.”

    The chief change in the program was the city’s elimination of a parking requirement that now increases the range of single-family residences which can participate in the program, Bermudez said. Garage conversions into ADUs or living space are no longer required to have replacement parking, Bermudez said.

    Tiny homes with a permanent foundation qualify as an ADU, but Bermudez said movable versions built on wheels are not permitted in Citrus Heights. She added that homeowners should obtain a copy of the city ordinance and check with the Planning Division to determine what specific zoning or construction permits may apply in their situation.

    The city considers ADUs to be an affordable way for homeowners to add a second smaller dwelling on their property and rent it out, or house aging parents, Bermudez said. “We still want to make sure that residents do it legally and make sure that people are living in safe spaces.”

    The ordinance puts a 1,200-square-foot cap as the maximum size for detached ADUs. Applications are required to be processed within 120 days of an application being submitted, as specified by state law to ensure the approval process doesn’t stall unnecessarily.

    If the city determines that an ADU can be created on a residential property, a building permit is required for converted spaces or new construction to ensure that the living area meets all the building and safety codes.

    Related: What you need to know about Citrus Heights’ new rental inspection program

    In mid-2017, the Citrus Heights Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend the new set of draft regulations that modified regulations on accessory dwelling units.

    Assembly Bill 2299 and Senate Bill 1069, which came into effect in January 2017, sought to create more affordable housing in the state by requiring that cities drop certain difficult-to-meet building regulations in order to make it easier to add secondary dwellings on single-family residential properties.

    When passed in the California legislature last year, the housing bills received bi-partisan support, with Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama) and Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova) each voting for the bills. Both Nielsen and Cooley represent Citrus Heights and the surrounding region in the state legislature.

    Additional answers to commonly asked questions are included below, with information taken directly from the city’s website:

    How do I get a permit?
    Plans will need to be submitted in order to obtain a Building Permit. Pick up an application package from the Building and Safety Division for a list of plans and information that is required for your project. Additional information may be found within the Zoning Code Section 106.42.210, or by contacting the Planning Division at (916) 727-4740.

    Which kinds of properties can add ADUs?
    An accessory dwelling (ADU), also commonly referred to as a granny flat, may be added to residential properties that are developed with a single-family home. Properties with multi-family units, including duplexes, may not add an ADU to the property.

    Are there any design requirements?
    The exterior of the ADU should be compatible in appearance with the primary home and utilize quality exterior materials such as high-quality wood, stucco, stone, or masonry. Additionally, an ADU that is 15 feet or less from a residential unit on an adjacent parcel shall not have windows that directly face windows on the other unit. A detached ADU located closer than 10 feet to a side lot line or 20 feet from a rear lot line shall have no 2nd floor windows facing the side or rear except for obscure glass.

    Are setbacks required?
    The placement of the ADU must comply with the same setbacks that apply to the primary home. The setbacks are determined by the zoning district for the parcel. Refer to the Development Standards page for setbacks by zoning district. If you do not know the zoning designation for your property, you may complete an online Zoning Information Request Form.

    What is the height limit of an ADU?
    ADUs that are detached from the primary home may not exceed 20 feet in height. If the ADU is above a detached garage, the maximum height is 25 feet. If the ADU is attached to the primary home, the maximum allowable height is 30 feet.

    How large can the second dwelling be?
    An ADU attached to the primary home may be up to 60% of the size of the primary home. If the ADU is detached, the maximum allowance is 1,200 square feet, regardless of the size of the primary home. For example, if a primary home is 1,800 square feet, including attached garage space, an attached ADU may be no more than 1,080 square feet (60% of 1,800 square feet). If the secondary unit has its own attached garage, you may exempt no more than 400 square feet of the garage space in the calculation. There may be no internal doorways from the living unit to the attached garage.

    Is there a maximum lot coverage area for structures?
    The maximum lot coverage of all structures on a parcel must comply with the zoning requirements. Please contact the Planning Division to find out the maximum allowable lot coverage for your property.

    Can I convert a garage or barn?
    In some cases, an existing building (garage, barn, etc.) may be converted to living space but it should also be noted that commonly when a garage or barn is constructed, they are built for storage — not for living space — so significant structural and energy (upgrades) will probably be required.

    Are there parking requirements?
    Although parking should be considered when planning an ADU, the demonstration that the site can accommodate additional parking is not required.

    Other facts you should know:

    • Secondary units may not be offered for sale apart from the principal unit.
    • Secondary units may have no more than 2 bedrooms.
    • Secondary units can be rented to anyone. The occupants do not have to be related to the owners of the property and do not have to be over a certain age. Also, it is not required that the owners of the primary home live on the property.
    • Your project will be reviewed to make sure that the design and placement of the secondary unit works well with the primary home and fits well into the surrounding neighborhood.
    • Secondary units may be attached to the primary home providing the secondary unit has a separate entrance.
    • All secondary dwelling units require a Building Permit and must comply with applicable building, fire, health and safety codes, as well with zoning requirements.

    Want to share your thoughts on housing in Citrus Heights? Click here to submit a letter to the editor.

  • Old home demolished on Sunrise Blvd; neighbors glad it’s no longer a homeless attraction

    Cars fly by the site of an abandoned home that was recently demolished on Sunrise Blvd. // Citrus Heights Sentinel

    *This story originally appeared in The Sentinel’s Oct. 1st Weekend e-Edition. Click here to get The Sentinel delivered to your inbox each Sunday.

    Sentinel staff report–
    A mountain of rubbish, the smell of charred wood, and part of a still-intact peaked roof were all that was left of a nearly 100-year-old home at the busy intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and Oak Avenue in Citrus Heights on Wednesday.

    “I just woke up one morning and it was gone,” said neighbor Kristina Eymert, who recalled her boyfriend heard a loud crash last weekend when the building was believed to have been torn down. She said the home had been an attraction for area homeless after it was vacated by prior tenants earlier this year.

    A fire crippled the old craftsman-style home on June 15 and a Metro Fire spokesman previously told The Sentinel it appeared the home “had been abandoned and there had been transients living on the property.” Damage was estimated around $100,000 by fire officials, with investigators determining the fire was “human caused, but unknown intent.”

    Prior story: Questions remain about cause of fire at old home at Sunrise/Oak

    Several neighbors said they now feel more safe after the building was demolished and transients are no longer able to camp inside. Eymert is hopeful the three-quarter acre property will now be replaced with anything that’s “safe and clean.”

    “I don’t care if it’s a laundromat, as long as it’s not some place for druggies to hide in,” said the neighbor. “I didn’t feel safe ever since it was vacant.”

    Another neighbor, who preferred her name not be published, expressed similar sentiment, saying the vacant property had become the scene of significant homeless activity.

    What’s the future of the property?
    The city’s building and planning divisions said no applications or permits have been recently received for the property, located at 7401 Sunrise Blvd. Even the demolition, which requires city approval, was conducted without notifying the city’s building and safety division, according to Susan McLendon, who works in the city’s building division.

    McLendon said the city’s chief building inspector has now put the property “in violation,” due to the unpermitted demolition.

    As previously reported on The Sentinel, the property has been owned by Sunrise Place, LLC, since at least 2004. The LLC is managed by New Faze Development, a property development company founded by current Sacramento City Councilman Allen Warren.

    Several phone messages left with New Faze executives over the past month have not been returned. A receptionist who answered the phone on Thursday said Warren was out of the country and unavailable. An email request to a New Faze vice president asking about future plans for the property was also not returned.

    Also on The Sentinel: What’s going on with that run-down home at Old Auburn and Mariposa Ave?

    The only development proposal for the property was received by the city’s planning division in 2005, seeking to demolish the old home and replace it with 10 condominium units. As part of the application process, a preservation consultant was hired and determined the home was built “in the teens or 1920’s,” according to documents obtained by The Sentinel.

    A determination was made that the home, although old, did not qualify for listing as a historical place or resource and could therefore be demolished. However, Citrus Heights Associate Planner Alison Bermudez said the condo project “never moved forward” and the application was closed.

    As of Sept. 28, Bermudez said no other applications for development at the site have been received.

    *This story originally appeared in The Sentinel’s Oct. 1st Weekend e-Edition. Click here to get The Sentinel delivered to your inbox each Sunday.

  • Questions remain about cause of fire at old home at Sunrise/Oak

    Old home, Sunrise, Oak, Citrus Heights
    An old home at the intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and Oak Avenue was damaged by a fire on June 15, 2017. // Citrus Heights Sentinel

    Sentinel staff report–
    What was once a charming craftsman cottage built in the early 1900’s is now a fenced off home on Sunrise Boulevard that’s partially boarded up and declared unsafe to occupy.

    Following an investigation into the cause of a blaze that crippled the vacant home at the intersection of Oak Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard two months ago, questions still remain for both Metro Fire investigators and nearby residents.

    “It’s been determined to be human caused, but unknown intent,” Fire Captain Chris Vestal told The Sentinel last week. Asked if the fire had been classified as arson, he said it didn’t meet the definition because the intent is unknown.

    “Arson requires an intent to cause fire,” the captain said. “What this means is that it wasn’t a mechanical failure of a refrigerator motor or that it wasn’t faulty wiring, but a condition that was caused by the act of a person, but we are unable to determine why that act was done.”

    A neighbor, who preferred to only give her first name for safety concerns, told The Sentinel on Thursday that the vacant house had become a magnet for homeless in recent months, after renters had left a few months before the fire occurred.

    She said several nights before the fire, a “really crazy” woman who appeared to be under the influence of drugs had knocked on her door and mentioned “they said they were going to do something bad,” apparently in reference to homeless individuals staying at the vacant home.

    Fire Captain Brian Gonsalves, who was on scene at the time of the fire on June 15, confirmed on Friday that it appeared the home “had been abandoned and there had been transients living on the property.” He described the home as having suffered mostly interior damage, which officials previously said caused about $100,000 in property damage.

    The fire had caused several lanes of traffic on Sunrise Boulevard to be partially blocked off as emergency crews responded to the scene of the fire on the west side of the intersection. Metro Fire had reported that firefighters encountered heavy fire conditions upon arrival, with flames extending into the attic of the aging, two-story home.

    Captain Vestal said no suspects were ever identified in the incident and said no future action is currently planned by Metro Fire or law enforcement. He said anyone with information about the fire can contact (916) 859-3779.

    What’s going to happen to the home?
    Although surrounded by a temporary chain link fence, a wide opening in the fence allows easy access. On Thursday, the front door was observed standing ajar, with only a few windows blocked with boards. A red notice posted next to the door declares the home “unsafe to occupy” by the city’s building department.

    Christine, the nearby neighbor, is concerned that the longer the home sits vacant, the worse things will get.

    County records indicate the three-quarter acre property at 7401 Sunrise Blvd. has been owned by Sunrise Place, LLC, since at least 2004. The LLC is managed by New Faze Development, a property development company founded by current Sacramento City Councilman Allen Warren.

    New Faze has been involved in well-known redevelopment projects in the Sacramento region and is currently embarking on an effort to build “tiny town” on Rio Linda Boulevard, which will feature small homes ranging in size from 240 to 500 square feet with a price tag of just over $100,000.

    A phone message left with a New Faze executive on Friday was not immediately returned, but a receptionist said she was unaware of any current plans for the old home at Sunrise Boulevard and Oak Avenue.

    Also on The Sentinel: What’s going on with that run-down home at Old Auburn and Mariposa Ave?

    According to Citrus Heights Associate Planner Alison Bermudez, an application was received in 2005 seeking to demolish the old home and replace it with 10 condominium units. As part of the application process, a preservation consultant was hired and determined the home was built “in the teens or 1920’s.” County assessor’s records list an “effective date” of 1925 for the home.

    A determination was made that the home, although old, did not qualify for listing as a historical place or resource and could therefore be demolished. However, Bermudez said the condo project “never moved forward” and the application was closed.

    She said no other applications for development at the site have been received.

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  • Old Logan’s to be demolished, replaced with new restaurants & retail on Sunrise

    Logan's, Sunrise Blvd
    A developer has proposed demolishing the old Logan’s restaurant on Sunrise Blvd. in order to construct a new 10,000-square-feet building closer to the street.

    Sentinel staff report–
    Following the closure of the old Citrus Heights Logan’s Roadhouse restaurant on Sunrise Boulevard earlier this year, the property’s new owner is proposing to demolish the old building and construct a new 10,000-square-feet retail and restaurant center situated closer towards the street.

    Although permits and approval from the planning commission have yet to be acquired, Jimboy’s Tacos has already signed a lease to be one of four likely future tenants at the location, according to Aaron Dan of Lockehouse Retail Group, the leasing agent for the property. He told The Sentinel on Thursday that negotiations with several other tenants are also underway.

    The new center is proposed to replace the old 8,500 square feet building with a modern four-tenant layout, featuring 99 parking spots in the rear and storefronts “right up on Sunrise.” Proposed sizes range from 2,100-square-feet to a larger 3,800-square-feet space, with some spaces divisible to 1,000 square feet, according to a leasing brochure.

    Dan said construction would likely begin by the end of the year, “assuming no hurdles” with permits or entitlements. He estimated construction to be completed in time for delivery to tenants early next year.

    Kathilynn Carpenter, who serves as executive director of the Sunrise Marketplace business improvement district, called the development proposal a “positive addition” to the area and said the building layout closer to the street would help improve the appearance and visibility for future tenants.

    Related: Outdated strip mall on Sunrise Blvd undergoing major face-lift

    After Logan’s Roadhouse Corporation filed for bankruptcy last year, the local franchisee initially posted a notice on the front door stating the Citrus Heights location would remain open. However, doors on the restaurant permanently closed earlier this year.

    Sacramento County property records show the 1.5-acre parcel at 5511 Sunrise Blvd. was sold to a company managed by investor Myron Zimmerman in February for $2.3 million. Zimmerman’s Bay Area-based investment firm, Myron Zimmerman Investments, specializes in managing and developing commercial properties around the United States, according to the company’s website.

    Alison Bermudez, an associate planner with the City of Citrus Heights, said the city is currently working with the developer on the design proposal and is awaiting submission of revised plans. She said the project will require a hearing before both the planning commission and city council, but said a hearing date has not yet been scheduled.

    Image: See rendering of proposed 10,000-square-feet building on Sunrise

    Nearby improvements are also underway, with an outdated strip mall across the street next to Nations undergoing a major face-lift in recent months. The project is scheduled to be completed this year, with future tenants including Dos Coyotes Border Cafe and Pizza Rev.

    Related:

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  • Staff propose relaxing regs on keeping chickens in Citrus Heights

    Staff propose relaxing regs on keeping chickens in Citrus Heights

    Chickens, hens, birds, eggs
    File photo, chickens. // CH Sentinel

    Updated April 16, 10:15 a.m.–
    The Citrus Heights planning division is seeking community feedback on draft wording of a proposal that would allow chickens to be kept on residential lots of any size in Citrus Heights. Currently, chickens can only be kept on lots larger than 10,000 square feet.

    According to a planning division email sent out last week to neighborhood associations and others, the proposal was made in response to “numerous requests from the community who have written, emailed, and called the city council to express their desire to raise chickens,” primarily for eggs.

    Alison Bermudez, an associate planner with the City of Citrus Heights, told The Sentinel community feedback is currently being sought on the proposal and said comments from the public can be submitted to planning@citrusheights.net, or by phone at (916) 727-4740.

    As currently drafted, the short revision would add just over 100 words to Title 106 of the Citrus Heights Municipal Code, a section dealing with small animal keeping.

    The City’s current zoning code only allows for noncommercial animals under 75 pounds to be kept on lots that are a minimum of 10,000 square feet in size, with the exception of pets.

    Proposed changes would create an exception to the lot size rule for chickens, as long as they have a clean coop or cage that is located at least five feet from rear or side property lines and 20 feet from a neighboring habitable structure. Free range chickens would only be allowed if a 40-foot buffer “is maintained from any neighboring property line.”

    Rooster regulations remain unchanged in the draft wording and still require a minimum 20,000 square foot lot size to be kept in most residential areas. Existing regulations regarding odors, vector control, and other nuisances would also still apply, according to the current draft wording.

    Bermudez said the current wording is “subject to change depending on feedback from the community, agencies, and the planning commission.”

    Do you support the chicken-keeping proposal? Post a comment on our Facebook page.

    Revisions are expected to be presented to the city council this June, pending a public hearing and approval from the planning commission.

    [follow text=”Get updates:”]

    Actual draft wording of revisions to municipal code 106.42.030, with revisions in red:

    B.(2) Small animal keeping. The minimum site area for the noncommercial keeping of small animals with a weight less than 75 pounds at maturity, other than pets, as an incidental use, shall be 10,000 square feet. Except chickens may be kept on any size lot subject to the standards listed in 106.42.030.G and roosters shall be allowed only on a site of 20,000 square feet or larger, or within an RD-1 or RD-2 zoning district.

    G. Chicken Keeping standards. Chickens keeping shall comply with the following requirements.
    1. Minimum site area. Chickens may be kept on any size lot within a residential district.
    2. Containment. Chickens shall be confined to a clean coop or cage which is no less than five feet from a side or rear property line and 20 feet from a neighboring habitable structure. Chickens may roam the property as long as a forty foot buffer is maintained from any neighboring property line through the use of fences, walls, or similar barrier.

    —
    Link to full draft document: http://www.citrusheights.net/DocumentCenter/View/5012

  • Citrus Heights seeks to attract craft breweries; drops permit req

    Craft beer, citrus heights breweries, permit
    The City of Citrus Heights recently dropped a use-permit requirement for brew pubs locating in commercial areas. Photo courtesy, Uri Tours (uritours.com) [CC BY-SA 2.0]
    Following the growing popularity of craft beer in the region, the City of Citrus Heights is seeking to attract brew pubs to its commercial areas by amending zoning codes and removing a previously required $5,400 regulatory permit for small breweries.

    “Brew pubs are the most popular trend to introduce locally brewed beer to a community,” said Citrus Heights Associate Planner Alison Bermudez in a press release issued by the City this month. “We wanted to encourage new and expanding breweries to make Citrus Heights their home and become part of our vibrant community.”

    Now only requiring a simple business license from the City in order to open up shop, a brew pub would previously have had to acquire a “use permit” from the City — a three to five month-long process involving a public hearing, planning commission approval, and an approximate $5,400 permit cost, according to City Development Specialist Devon Rodriguez.

    Unanimously approved last month by city council members, the amended zoning code now distinguishes “brew pubs” from “bars” by defining them as facilities that produce and serve their own beer on-site, have annual production less than 5,000 barrels, and close no later than 11 p.m. on weekends and 10 p.m. on weekdays. Those meeting this definition now have a right to locate anywhere in the City’s commercial areas and can also serve food — but those seeking later hours or additional production will still need to acquire a use permit, according to a planning division report. Additional licensing from the state and a food permit from the County are also still required.

    [Document: Read full zoning code changes from July council meeting agenda]

    The code amendment also reclassified “taverns” to be distinct from “bars,” allowing such businesses to open up locations in commercial zones without a use permit as well, as long as they adhere to the same requirements. Taverns are defined similarly to brew pubs, except they do not produce their own beer on site.

    City staff said they worked closely with the Citrus Heights Police Department while crafting the changes and said police were supportive, in light of the restricted night-time operating hours and the nature of brew pubs and taverns being gathering places.

    The growing demand for craft beer in the region was highlighted by an August MarketWatch report that listed Sacramento as the fifth largest consumer of craft beer in the nation, with local brew representing 33 percent of all beer sold in the city. The number of breweries in California also increased by over 20 percent in 2014, according to planning division staff.

    Citrus Heights council members began formal discussion on craft beer regulations at a February 26 study session led by Bermudez, who provided the council with an overview of craft beer, along with trends and statistics related to the industry, according to official minutes from the session.

    Previously lacking a clear definition of where a brew pub could locate within the City, the planning division received council approval to review land use and zoning codes in order to offer a more business-friendly environment and allow the City to “capture the proven economic and social benefit” involved. A set of streamlined and simplified regulatory changes were then approved by the planning commission in June and city council in July.

    Rodriguez said the process went “very smoothly” and received no public comment or opposition during hearings at the planning commission and city council meetings.

    [You may also like: New Citrus Heights retail, restaurants planned for Auburn Blvd]

    City staff are currently aware of at least one brewery interested in opening a Citrus Heights location, and a new Alley Katz “craft beer and grill” is expected to open soon in the Citrus Town Center — although it will not be producing its own beer on site, according to Rodriguez.
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  • New Sunrise Blvd memory care center under construction

    Sunrise memory care center, citrus heights
    A preliminary landscape plan from Citrus Heights Planning Commission documents shows the layout of a new memory care center under construction on Sunrise Blvd. Image courtesy, MSLA Landscape Architecture.

    Construction began last week on a new 48-bed memory care facility on Sunrise Boulevard, with the completed project set to include a large courtyard and water features, along with protection for a 400-year-old oak tree identified on the property.

    Located just north of Highland Avenue near the FoodMaxx shopping center, the new “Courte at Sunrise Oaks” memory care center plans to provide round-the-clock care for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s, according to Citrus Heights Planning Commission documents. The 32,000-square-feet facility will include a common dining and gathering space, as well as a fully functional kitchen for preparing and serving meals.

    The 2.8-acre site project was approved by planning commissioners in January, with conditions including a requirement to install meandering sidewalks along Sunrise Boulevard and three new LED street lights. The project plans also include installation of an on-site water detention basin and the use of pervious concrete pavement in an 18-spot parking area, to address several neighbor concerns about drainage and flooding issues in the past.

    Inch-for-inch replacement of 14 trees protected by the City’s tree ordinance is also a requirement detailed in the planning commission documents, with an alternative option to pay an “in-lieu mitigation fee” of $298 per inch of protected trees removed.

    Although only a few resident concerns about traffic flow and drainage issues were raised by the current project, a previous proposal to build a 36-unit, two-story apartment complex on the site was opposed by neighbors and denied by planning commissioners in 1997, according to a January 28 agenda packet from the commission.

    [Document: Jan. 28, 2015 Planning Commission Agenda Packet]

    Citrus Heights Associate Planner Alison Bermudez said she had not not heard an estimated date for completion of the memory care center, but said building permits for the project had been picked up within the last two weeks.

    Bermudez said another memory care center was also approved by the commission a few years ago on a vacant parcel on Sunrise Boulevard near Twin Oaks Avenue, but she said no action has been taken since then.