Presentation postponed for Sunrise Mall development proposal

By Sara Beth Williams–
A presentation that was scheduled to allow for public review and input on a controversial proposal to amend the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan has been postponed.

The meeting was originally scheduled to be held on Wednesday, Nov. 13, but has been postponed at the request of Ethan Conrad Properties, the city said in an update on Tuesday.

Proposed changes by Ethan Conrad Properties include the allowance of multiple quick-service restaurants and drive-thru businesses, building and landscape materials sales, light industrial and storage uses, and automotive uses, as well as the removal of requirements for open space, according to the city’s initial Oct. 1 announcement.

A site plan included in the developer’s proposal shows spots for six quick-serve national restaurants taking up largely vacant parking lot areas along Sunrise Boulevard, along with a seventh restaurant in the former Elephant Bar location. An eighth, quick-serve national restaurant is also shown being added along Greenback Lane. The site plan shows In-N-Out Burger listed as one of the future proposed tenants near the southern end of the property, while other restaurant tenants are not named.

The former Sears building is listed as “national tenant bowling/entertainment use,” and a Home Depot is shown in the southeastern corner of the property. The existing mall building appears to remain unchanged in the site plan.

The proposal cites multiple sections of the city’s General Plan as justification for allowing the proposal, including the city’s goal to “create an inviting and distinctive identity for Sunrise MarketPlace to promote its image as the City’s premier destination to shop, work, live, and play.”

Ethan Conrad Properties states in proposal documents that the company “controls” 71 acres of the mall property, but it is unclear whether the acreage is owned by the company or if the reference could indicate an option to buy, or other agreement with other owners of mall property. The Sentinel previously reported that Conrad purchased 21 acres of the almost-100 acre-mall property in 2022.

For information on the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan and proposed redevelopment plans, visit sunrisetomorrow.net. The full proposal submitted by Ethan Conrad Properties can be viewed online here.

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