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Citrus Heights approves U-Haul neighborhood dealer at Auburn Boulevard with landscaping, vehicle limits
Summary
The commission cleared a use permit to allow a U-Haul neighborhood dealer at 7500 Auburn Boulevard, imposing a five-vehicle on-site limit and landscaping requirements along Cook Avenue; staff and engineering emphasized flexibility to accommodate truck maneuvering.
The Citrus Heights Planning Commission on Sept. 9 approved a use permit to allow a U-Haul neighborhood dealer at 7500 Auburn Boulevard, a site in the Auburn Boulevard Special Planning Area within the Lincoln 40 District. The commission found the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act and approved conditions that include a five-vehicle on-site limit and landscaping along Cook Avenue.
Associate planner Stephanie Louie said the proposal would allow U-Haul to operate a smaller-scale, neighborhood dealer incidental to the existing fuel station and convenience store. She said rentals would be scheduled through U-Haul’s website or app, could be returned 24/7 using key drop boxes, and that no maintenance of U-Haul vehicles would occur on-site. Staff recommended limiting the number of rental units on-site to five to preserve customer circulation.
Johnny Lozano, an area field supervisor for U-Haul, told the commission the property owner’s main concern is safe access for the fueling truck and trailer that service the site. Lozano said the rounded curbs in the proposed planter strip along Cook Avenue could impede the truck’s turning and refueling movements and asked staff to allow flexibility in planter length or configuration. “That's the only concern that the owners of the property have currently,” Lozano said, adding that the applicant is willing to comply with landscaping requirements if operational constraints are addressed.
Daniel Kerr, the city engineer, said the U-Haul proposal does not currently include ground disturbance or paving that would trigger additional stormwater or drainage improvements, but he noted that if the unpaved staging area were later paved, water-quality elements could be required.
Staff also said that where vehicles were parked on unpaved surfaces, the applicant must either pave those areas or limit parking to approved paved zones. Commissioners asked about enforcement; staff said the permit and conditions reduce the informal existing vehicle count and that engineering and staff will work with the applicant on final landscaping and circulation plans.
Commissioner VanDuca moved to adopt Resolution 2025-03 determining the project exempt from CEQA (Section 15301) and to approve the use permit at 7500 Auburn Boulevard subject to the staff report and revised condition 9; the motion passed by voice vote. The chair read appeal instructions: appeals must be filed with the city clerk within 10 calendar days and require a $250 filing fee.
The approval requires a final landscape plan and staff flexibility to negotiate planter length so operations, including truck service access, are reasonably accommodated.
