CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif. — The city of Citrus Heights is proposing a overlay zone proposal, which in-short means new gas stations and car washes will no longer be allowed in the area of the Sunrise MarketPlace.
Casey Kempenaar, the community development director for Citrus Heights, says the purpose of the overlay zone -- if approved -- is to further refine the uses allowed in the Sunrise MarketPlace to make sure the area is solely used for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
The city developed the Sunrise Tomorrow Plan for the Sunrise Mall site in November. From the Sunrise Tomorrow Plan came a survey the city says is the basis of the overlay zone proposal.
In the survey, the community said they wanted to see more uses, like entertainment and sit-down dining.
The city of Citrus Heights is 98% built out and the marketplace is almost completely built out. City officials says the overlay zone proposal will help preserve some land.
“Right now we are seeing a lot of pressure for uses that are more conducive for passing through traffic traveling down Sunrise Boulevard and not necessarily stopping in Citrus Heights, so we want to make sure we give those folks a excuse to stop here, shop here, play here, and be entertained here. Making sure we have land available to do so is paramount," said Kempenaar.
Existing gas stations and car washes will be allowed to remain in operation, only new gas and car stations will be banned from the area.
The proposal still has a way to go before it is finalized, but the city spokesperson says it could be up for discussion at city council this fall.
