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The Sacramento City Design Commission will be reviewing the current proposal for an 11,823 square foot Walgreens on the southwest corner of Alhambra Boulevard and L Street, in East Sacramento's "Alhambra Corridor". This is a public meeting and will be held on Wednesday, September 17th at 5:30 p.m. at:
The New City Hall
915 I Street
First Floor Hearing Room
Sacramento, CA
Information, concerns, questions, or objections contact with project number DR07-396:
Matthew Sites
Development Services Department
(916) 808-7646
The Mayflower Chinese Restaurant and the building that once housed Luis's Mexican Food will be demolished and combined with an adjacent lot to construct a 24 hour store, along with 10 on-site parking spots and 35 off-site parking spots. The builders are also asking for a variance in set backs which would allow for a "zero lot line".
The East Sacramento Alhambra Corridor Neighborhood Association has met several times to become familiar with the project and discuss concerns of many of our neighbors. These concerns include, but are not limited to:
- the fact that there are already two Walgreens stores within two miles of the proposed site.
- the loss of a popular neighborhood restaurant to be replaced by another pharmacy. There are currently 5 pharmacies within one half mile, 9 within one mile, and a total of 22 pharmacies within a two mile radius.
- the Alhambra Corridor contains the most densely packed "business district" in Sacramento of stores open for extended hours selling low value food and beverages. These include a 24 hour Rite Aid, a 24 hour Safeway, a 24 hour McDonald's, a 24 hour Del Taco, many mini-marts, and a liquor store.
- fear of a crime increase that accompanies 24 hour establishments.
We need your help to stop this project. Please plan to attend this public meeting with your neighbors and friends. The only way we can stop this project is with your opposition. If you cannot attend this meeting, please contact Matthew Sites at the phone number listed above, with your concerns and comments.
Sincerely,
Karen Burnat
Martha Paterson-Cohen
Carolyn Rech
East Sacramento/Alhambra Corridor Neighborhood Association (ESACNA)
Here is an email reply on the subject from Evan Compton, Associate Planner...
Staff has not taken a formal position on this project since we have not completed a Review and Comment hearing or formally coordinated with Councilmember Cohn on the newest plans received. We have completed some analysis to date below:
Retail uses are allowed by right subject to meeting development standards such as parking, height, setbacks, etc. Therefore staff does not have purview over the proposed drugstore use. However, the applicant is not meeting all the development standards. They are requesting offsite parking (because the parking is located on a separate parcel across the public alley) and a variance because the corner architectural projection does not stepback to meet the required distance from the property line.
In regards to the offsite parking, staff has expressed concerns because the proposal would demolish an existing building (Luis’ restaurant) to locate a new surface parking lot. This parking lot would be located off of Alhambra Blvd where the goal is to establish a pedestrian friendly environment. Staff has already indicated to the applicant this is an issue because parking lots disrupt the walkability and in response the applicant plans to show the hearing body how they will screen the parking lot from the street view with a short wall and trellis to maintain a pedestrian friendly environment.
In regards to the variance for the stepback on L Street, the applicant will need to show that the architectural projection will not have a negative impact on the tree canopy and that the design is appropriate for the Alhambra Corridor Special Planning District.
One could argue that demolishing a building to construct a parking lot is inappropriate and the applicant should consider subterranean parking or that the floor plan of the retail turns it back to the public street and should be reconfigured. One could mention that nontransparent windows facing L Street and the overall corporate design don’t meet the high quality requirements of the Special Features Area in the Alhambra Corridor. This site is smaller than many other Walgreens so one could argue the overall size of the site is too small for the proposed development. These are all arguments that staff has received to date. These are issues that the Design Commission and Planning Commission will need to evaluate in making a decision.
Next steps for staff will be to setup a Review and Comment hearing in front of Planning Commission and Design Commission. This will provide the neighborhood an opportunity to voice their concerns before the hearing bodies and before the project comes back for a final decision.
We do not have scheduled dates for the public hearing but when it is set, notices will be mailed out.
I understand there will be a community meeting for MENA on September 3 at 7pm and staff will be attending.
Earlier...
Our signatures and comments were submitted to the city and Walgreens. After Walgreens reviewed our comment letter and petitions, the company decided that they feel they will need to go back to the neighborhood for outreach. I don't know what this will entail, but I will keep you posted. Walgreens submitted revised plans, but would not move or provide a door at the corner (instead of the alley). The environmental document has not been prepared for this project but there is an environmental planner assigned to the project: Rochelle Amrhein (Shelly). Shelly's contact information is 808-7601, rwamrhein@cityofsacramento.org.
Proposed Alhambra Corridor Walgreens Project
Dear Neighbors,
Walgreens has announced plans to build a 11,823 square-foot superstore on the southwest corner of Alhambra Blvd and L Street,
in East Sacramento's "Alhambra Corridor" (see map).
The Mayflower Chinese Restaurant and the building that once housed Luis's Mexican Food will be demolished and combined with
an adjacent lot to construct a 24 hour store, along with 10 on-site parking spots and 35 off-site parking spots. The builders
are also asking for a variance in set backs which would allow for a "zero lot line".
The East Sacramento Alhambra Corridor Neighborhood Association has met several times to become familiar with the project
and discuss concerns of many of our neighbors. These concerns include, but are not limited to:
- Increased crime that accompanies 24 hour establishments.
- The loss of a popular neighborhood restaurant to be replaced by another pharmacy.
- The high density of pharmacies already in the neighborhood. Currently there are five pharmacies within a half mile, nine within one mile, and a total of 22 within a two mile radius.
- The Alhambra Corridor contains the most densely packed "business district" in Sacramento of stores open for extended hours selling low value food and beverages. These include a 24 hour Rite Aid, A 24 hour Safeway, a 24 hour McDonald's, a 24 hour Del Taco, a 24 hour card room, many mini marts and a liquor store.
- The project does not comply with the intent and guidelines of the Alhambra Corridor Special Planning District.
We can stop this and you can help...
- Call and write the Sacramento City Council.
- Call and write Walgreens (they won't go in if enough of the community does not want it).
- Volunteer to help.
- Go to the ESACNA meetings.
- Talk to your neighbors and friends and get them involved.