Residents press for more community input on Sunrise Mall plans as developer delays presentation

At the Jan. 22 Citrus Heights City Council meeting, several residents urged the city to insist on robust neighborhood participation and long-term community benefits for proposed redevelopment at Sunrise Mall, and the project representative said the formal council presentation was postponed to allow more community input.

The subject emerged during public comment, where David Shelton, a resident, said Sunrise Mall redevelopment plans presented at a Jan. 16 neighborhood meeting focused on concepts around the former Sears end but left other areas—such as the Macy’s end—unaddressed. “We need to have neighborhoods contribute to the planning for the future new mall look,” Shelton said.

Why it matters: Sunrise Mall occupies a large, high-visibility property in Citrus Heights; residents and some speakers at the meeting said they fear short-term developer gains could result in long-term community losses if neighborhood priorities are not incorporated.

Multiple speakers reinforced that concern. Resident David Warren said the city must protect long-term revenue and community benefit when negotiating redevelopment. “I keep watching proposals that are coming by and it truly frightens me that we're gonna end up with a short term benefit for the developer and long term loss for the community,” Warren said.

Debbie Nauman, who identified herself as a Macy’s employee and long-time local real estate agent, described the store’s closure as upsetting to residents and urged action: “We need to do something with that mall that is good for our community, not in and outs,” she said.

Ethan Conrad, the project representative who addressed the council, said the developer has been meeting with neighborhood associations and has revised plans based on feedback. “We requested being postponed for approximately a month, hopefully for February 26,” Conrad said, adding that the team has met with two associations and held a 50-person meeting that he called “very productive.” He said the applicant has a project website and materials for associations and expects to return to the council after more neighborhood input.

Council member comments indicated the city is working behind the scenes. Council Member Schafer noted that ongoing work does not always show up as visible construction: “Just because you don't see any bulldozers out there does not mean that there's not people working hard to affect a change there,” Schafer said.

What happens next: Conrad said the team is targeting the Feb. 26 council meeting for a formal presentation, pending completion of additional neighborhood outreach. The council did not take formal action on the project during the Jan. 22 meeting; the topic appeared in public comment and applicant remarks only.

Proper nouns and context referenced at the meeting included Sunrise Mall and Macy’s; the developer’s outreach included presentations to neighborhood associations and a Jan. 16 presentation to a Planning/Neighborhood group.