Changes proposed for Feather River Center, Yuba College area

Under a Yuba County plan discussed Tuesday, reinvesting in east Linda could mean significant changes for two of its most identifiable institutions.

The former Peach Tree Mall and now Feather River Center, largely vacant for more than two decades, could be transformed into a modern shopping center with housing at its edges and a plaza in the middle, under the plan.

And undeveloped land north and east of Yuba College could grow into a combination of retail and housing to make the area more of a small community and less of an in-out destination.

But county planner Dan Cucchi, who introduced the plan to the Yuba County Board of Supervisors at Tuesday's board meeting, said he would caution against seeing the plan as ironclad, rather than suggestive.

"We're not set in stone to do any of this," Cucchi said, though elements of it, if deemed workable, could eventually be part of county zoning code updates. "It gives us ideas."

Under the East Linda Reinvestment Plan, created through a $103,782 grant from Caltrans, the shopping center and the two areas around the college are designated "opportunity zones" where the county could invest in infrastructure or take other steps to encourage the ideas outlined for those areas.

With the Feather River Center, the plan suggests creating a core group of big-box retailers and a few smaller ones, with a central plaza where community events such as a farmers' market could be, Cucchi said.

At the center's edges would be mixed-use development, including housing.

"What we see is the potential to incorporate a whole array of commercial uses," he said.

For the property north of North Beale Road and Yuba College, the plan envisions retail on North Beale and a variety of housing behind it. East of the college, the property would be bisected by the proposed Goldfields Parkway with mixed-use commercial properties to the west and more mixed housing to the east.

Other aspects of the plan examine land use and zoning, with planners emphasizing more options and safety for cycling and pedestrians and be ter thinking on how vehicle traffic moves.

Cucchi pointed out Grove Avenue, where residents last week said there is too much traffic relative to the community, as an example of what needs to be addressed.

"Of course, none of these kinds of plans matter unless you implement them," Cucchi told the board, showing a list of possible grant sources, including the Sacramento Council of Governments and state sustainable community programs, the county could use to put some of the plan into action.

Supervisors suggested a few tweaks to the reinvestment plan, to take into account that developers and businesses won't commit to anything if fees and entitlements cost too much.

"I know a lot of businesses, when they come here, once they hear the fees involved, they kind of shelve things," said Supervisor Andy Vasquez, who represents Linda. Drainage and flood control, among other fees, can cause particular hangups, he said.

Still, Supervisor Mary Jane Griego said, the plan helps the county show businesses what is possible, and what might be preferable.

"This is a great plan, and a place to start from," she said.

A shopper at Feather River's last large occupant, the FoodMaxx store, said she remembered when the center was thriving, before the 1986 flood caused an inexorable exodus.

"I think there really needs to be something here," said Stacy Smotherman, 36, as she unloaded groceries Tuesday afternoon. "It's wasted space."

In particular, she said, a revamped center needs something for younger residents.

The full plan will be brought before the board again for formal approval in two weeks.

CONTACT Ben van der Meer at bvandermeer @appealdemocrat.com or 749-4786. Find him on Facebook at /ADbvandermeer or on Twitter at @ADbvandermeer.