CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - A proposal to build a Starbucks café on three existing commercial parcels on 2.2 acres just inside Citrus Heights’ northern boundary on Auburn Boulevard will rely on some future work the city is planning under its Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets project before it can proceed.

Individual business owners within the project area located south of the Auburn Boulevard and Whyte Avenue intersection near the city of Roseville are waiting to learn what the construction timeline will be.

The Citrus Heights Planning Commission approved plans on April 21 for the construction of a new 2,610-square-foot Starbucks at 8550 Auburn Boulevard.

The project’s zoning designation for these three parcels is SPA – special planning area within the Auburn Boulevard Commercial (ABC) zoning district and also falls in the Gateway District Commercial Center.

Kevin Payne, a planning consultant who worked with city staff and the project’s applicant, led a presentation on April 21 to the city planning commission about the project.

Access to the new Starbucks café is by a single main driveway off Auburn Boulevard that is located at a new traffic signal intersection which is part of the “Auburn Complete Streets” plan, Payne explained. The main entrance to the café faces east towards the parking lot, and the drive-thru lane will wrap the building with landscaping on either side.

The café design features a 400-square-foot uncovered exterior patio seating area. Other improvements include the removal of the existing parking lot, installation of new paved drive aisles and parking areas, construction of a drive-thru lane, concrete sidewalks, new landscaping and a new trash enclosure for each building.

According to a project narrative which was prepared by the architect McCandless & Associates of Woodland, Calif., café users will access the site from the parking lot and drive-thru lane. Some 38 parking spaces are included in the project that meets the city’s minimum requirement for the proposed use.

Within the existing 6,840 square-foot multi-tenant commercial building built in 1960 is divided into two by a breezeway with a 1,447 square-foot structure on one side, that is occupied by Sam’s Liquor and Food, and 5,263 square-foot portion which has four individual tenant spaces.

The location of a new Starbucks café may create competition for “Just Tea It,” a distinctive family-owned boba tea shop which opened in the plaza in August 2019, its owners say.

“There will be an extended amount of time before any construction plans and/or timeline are known, but it’s several months out,” said Marisa Brown, CH city communications officer, describing the project’s status on behalf of the city planning department.

A closed 106-square-foot Java Detour coffee kiosk and a substantial portion of an existing commercial building which houses Sam’s Liquor and Food will be demolished, Brown said.

The other building with Waggin Tails and Just Tea It will remain, but the overall building will get a facelift,” Brown said.

Waggin’ Tails Doggie Day Care, next to the liquor store has undergone a change of ownership, according to former owner Andrea Cermak. “The new owners were scheduled to take over on July 16 from Cermak and will do business as “The Nature of Dogs.’” Neither a representative for the liquor store nor the owner of the new pet sitting business were available for comment.

According to construction plans, an existing open pet exercise yard already in use dog day care business will remain in place.

Brothers Jeffrey and Jason Liang, along with their parents, Jack and Amy signed a three-year lease in 2019 and opened Just Tea It in May of that year just across from the now shuttered Big Lots store on Auburn Boulevard.

The Liang family also owns and operates Aquarium Depot further down Auburn Boulevard in Citrus Heights.

“The site was quite an ugly duckling, a closed sandwich shop, but our family felt the location had a lot of promise, given what we know of the city’s plans for the redevelopment of Auburn Boulevard, and we decided to open,” Jason Liang said.

Gray exterior paint featuring a large painted green leaf logo with the words “Just Tea It – Boba and More” entices customers who travel north on Auburn Boulevard.

Parents Jack and Amy had been in the restaurant business for over 30 years, and as a family, turned the ownership and day to day management of Aquarium and Reptile Depot to their two sons who continue to make the business thrive.

The family weathered the pandemic, reduced hours at Just Tea It for a time and closed off their dining area to help their business survive, Amy Liang said.

The shop’s menu was reduced for a time, but milk tea and coffee, smoothies, fruit teas, slushies and a selection of Gunther’s Ice Cream are served.

“It was rough going for a time during the pandemic, and we’re drawing our regular customers back,” she said. “It’s very much wait and see to see if we can remain in business and thrive once this new Starbucks opens here.”