Plans move forward for new food truck plaza in Citrus Heights

By Sara Beth Williams–
Drivers traveling past the corner of Auburn Boulevard and Twin Oaks Avenue recently may have noticed fencing removed and weeds cleared from the lot, as the owner prepares for turning the property into a food truck plaza.

According to the property owner, Jagtar Singh, clearing overgrown weeds was necessary because they posed a fire danger. Singh said he intends to transform the long-vacant lot into a plaza for food trucks in the next six months.

The proposal for Twin Oaks Food Truck Plaza was approved by the city’s Planning Division, according to the city’s website. Singh said he now has submitted plans to the city’s Building and Safety Division and is awaiting approval. Singh anticipates beginning construction within the next two months.

The current site has been vacant for years and features a large cement slab that was overgrown with weeds and surrounded by chain-link fencing until recently. Singh said the previous owner, who wanted to use the property for retail purposes, demolished the parking lot area prior to his acquiring the property. The Sentinel previously reported that the former property owner had difficulty finding tenants to fill spots for his proposed shopping center, with plans never materializing.

According to Alison Bermudez, senior planner with the city’s Planning Division, Singh purchased the Twin Oaks parcel in the fall of 2023.

Singh said on Wednesday he hopes to utilize the cement slab as a place where food trucks can park and serve food to patrons because the foundation already has electrical and plumbing incorporated.

The plaza would accommodate up to 15 food trucks, according to documents posted online. The proposal blueprints depict plans for new landscaping and fencing, appropriate electrical and water hookups, and applicable garbage and food waste disposal locations for food trucks. Singh said the property would be well lit and perimeter fencing and security cameras would also be installed.

The proposed plaza design incorporates a central space for tables with “covered pyramid awnings with lighting.” Several photos in online plans show colorful triangular canopies as an alternative to pyramid awnings. Lighting would “be directed inward away from neighboring properties,” according to the proposal.

Several more photos show another similar business model in action, where food trucks line either side of a busy plaza and metal awnings cover a bustling central thoroughfare, with both round and rectangular tables provided for patrons to sit.

“We’ll have different kind of variety of food trucks: pizza, burgers, tacos, Mediterranean, Chinese food,” Singh told The Sentinel, also adding that he plans to offer month-to-month rental spaces where trucks can permanently park. If things go well, Singh said he would offer six or 12-month rental agreements for parking spaces.

In a year’s time, Singh also wants to offer Electric Vehicle charging stations at the site so that drivers can charge their vehicles while eating lunch. Alcoholic beverages will not be available from any food trucks on site.

“There are some people who are going to abuse it; we don’t want to bring that kind of attention,” Singh said, also adding that selling alcohol requires the extra process of approval of alcoholic licenses.