YC approves retail plan

The Yuba City Planning Commission approved a plan Wednesday for a grocery and drug store near the southwest corner of Lincoln Road and Walton Avenue that met with no public opposition.

"We believe that the project we are presenting tonight is a quality project," said developer Lux Taylor, of Sacramento-based Taylor Properties. "We've done a lot of retail."

The project will go before the Yuba City City Council for a general plan amendment and rezoning from neighborhood commercial to community commercial. The change is required to accommodate a Walgreens drive-through window.

Planning commissioners approved a developers' request for three signs instead of two. The Community Development Director will be able to sign off on any project phasing.

There was no opposition during a public hearing. One nearby resident who lives just north of Lincoln Road asked whether more water would already drain into his water-logged property. He was assured that runoff would stay south of Lincoln Road.

Planning Commissioner John Sanbrook noted that the eastbound left-turn lane on Lincoln Road is already backed up. But a traffic study found the intersection did not need any improvements to handle the additional traffic and no changes were made . Developers will have to pick up a small part of the costs of improving some nearby intersections.

The development, slated for a spring 2009 construction start, would bring a Fresh & Easy grocery store with a 10,000-square-foot sales floor and a 14,550-square-foot Walgreens drug store that would open in about a year. Some unidentified smaller shops would be located in a third, 3,250-square-foot building.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter John Dickey at 749-4711 or jdickey@appealdemocrat.com.