By Sara Beth Williams–
The Veterans Community Center is hoping to purchase an adjacent vacant lot which otherwise could potentially house duplexes.
At the end of February, the Citrus Heights Planning Commission evaluated a submitted request for the subdivision of a 0.42-acre vacant lot on Sylvan Road into two lots, which sits adjacent to the Veterans Community Center.
The proposed lot split could negatively impact the Veterans Community Center if the future parcels are developed into duplexes, Veterans Center representatives warned in February.
In an update to the Planning Commission on April 28, the owner of a lot on Sylvan Road adjacent to the Veterans Community Center, who requested to subdivide the lot, is continuing to work with the Veterans Community Center to negotiate a purchase agreement, the city said.
The Veterans Community Center is reportedly continuing to work to secure funds for purchase, the city said. President of the Veterans Community Center Michelle Grant could not be reached for comment.
The vacant lot is currently used for overflow parking, Grant explained in a written comment during the meeting. Grant succeeded the center’s co-founder, the late Jeanne Rounsavell, who served as president for many years before her passing in 2025.
The application requesting a subdivision includes conceptual plans for future development that include a duplex on each lot and an additional accessory dwelling unit, according to the Planning Commission agenda packet. However, project planners during the February hearing said no development was being proposed or submitted for review. Only the lot split request was up for consideration. Any future development would need to follow permit processes.
If developed with duplexes and an auxiliary dwelling unit, as the property owner has shown on a conceptual map, the Veterans Community Center will lose overflow parking, greatly impacting the ability for the center to hold large events due to lack of safe parking for elderly and disabled veterans, Grant said.
Another veteran who spoke during public comment, said most veterans who attend events are in their 80’s on average, and many are disabled or use walkers. The speaker also said that the Veterans Community Center had reportedly been attempting to buy the adjacent parcel, in order to continue to use for overflow parking.
Two commissioners expressed concerns about adequate access points for fire trucks, and SMUD vehicles, which can be up to 26,000 pounds. City planners said the development of the lot wasn’t under review, and that Sacramento Metro Fire and SMUD would conduct their own reviews if construction plans are submitted at a later date.
The Veterans Community Center is located at 6921 Sylvan Rd. and sits on 0.59 acres and typically uses the adjacent vacant lot for overflow parking for major events, such as annual Luaus and other fundraising dinners, as well as annual concerts such as free Ben Ali Shrine concerts, Grant said.
In February, Commissioner Al Hakam Al Rami moved to continue the subdivision request to a future date to allow for more time to study access compatibility issues, as well as to allow for the full Planning Commission to be present. The five present commissioners unanimously agreed to continue the item. Vice Chair Marcelle Flowers and Commissioner Andrew Van Duker were absent from the February meeting.
No new date for reevaluation has been set.
