Citrus Heights council won’t be hearing Sunrise Mall proposal at next meeting

By Sara Beth Williams–
The commercial real estate mogul seeking to amend the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan will not be presenting his proposal to the Citrus Heights City Council this month.

According to an agenda packet released Friday covering agenda topics for the upcoming Feb. 26 Citrus Heights City Council meeting, Ethan Conrad, CEO of Ethan Conrad Properties, will not be presenting his amendment proposal to the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan as he had initially anticipated doing, according to statements made to the council last month.

Previously, the presentation had been scheduled as a “discussion only” item twice, once on Nov. 15, 2024, and once on Jan. 22, 2025. However, the developer pulled the item from the agenda prior to both City Council meetings.

Following the release of the council meeting agenda on Friday afternoon, Conrad was not immediately able to be reached for comment, but he has been busy reaching out to local neighborhood areas throughout Citrus Heights regarding the proposal, which he calls “Sunrise Tomorrow Evolution.”

Conrad has proposed amending the Specific Plan to allow for light industrial uses, and at least eight quick-serve restaurants with drive-thrus, among other changes. Conrad has stated on multiple occasions that he is requesting the amendment to allow for “more flexibility for logical retail uses” in order to attract the tenants needed to establish an “economically viable, long-term solution” for the property.

The developer has also reportedly reached out to multiple Citrus Heights City Council members to meet personally to discuss plans for the future of Sunrise Mall, according to Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa. City Council member Tim Schaefer confirmed he has met with Conrad, but said he has not in “no way, shape or form endorsed his program.”

The mayor said Thursday she declined to meet with Conrad despite multiple attempts on his part to do so, adding that it is “her policy” not to meet with developers privately, and that any conversations had, should be held in a public forum.

Conrad has already met with Neighborhood Area 1 Northwest, Neighborhood Area 5 (PONA), Neighborhood Area 7, 8, and 9 (CHASEN) in January, and Neighborhood Areas 3 and 4: (CHANT and Arcade Creek), and Neighborhood Area 11 (Birdcage Heights) earlier in February.

Below is a list of Neighborhood Areas at which Ethan Conrad Properties is scheduled to present later this month:

Neighborhood Area 2 and 6 (Rusch Park and Sunrise Ranch): A representative of the developer plans to present at the regular monthly meeting for CHATS on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and is held at Twin Oaks Baptist Church, at 7690 Twin Oaks Ave.

Neighborhood Area 10 (SOAR) A presentation is scheduled to take place on Monday, Feb. 24, in Area 10, according to SOAR’s president. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at Citrus Heights Sylvan Community Center at 7521 Community Drive.

Don’t know what area you live in? Find out on the city’s interactive map here.