ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Elk Grove Planning Commission on Oct. 17 signed off on initial approvals for a new building at the Sutter Health campus on Laguna Boulevard.

The 57,411-square-foot, two-story medical office building would be constructed to the south of the existing surgery center. Sutter owns 40 acres of land in the area south of Laguna and east of Big Horn Boulevard; the new building and associated parking lots would take up about 4 acres of that.

As part of the project, Sutter Health has offered to do a full improvement on a trail adjacent to the project, paving it and adding new benches and trash cans, with pathways connecting to the new project. The city’s Trails Committee supported the plans.

Senior planner Kyra Killingsworth described the history of the site, for which Sutter Health previously had different plans.

In 2008, Planning Commission approved entitlements for a medical complex consisting of a hospital and eight associated medical office buildings. Out of the original plans, only an ambulatory surgery center has been built, and the remaining parcels remain vacant.

Sutter Health asked the commission to revoke the entitlements for the unconstructed buildings, including the hospital, which Killingsworth said would grant Sutter more flexibility.

Staff also supported a deviation from city code, allowing some of the building’s parking lots to not have islands, given that they will have solar-panel shade structures. Further, staff proposed setting the stage to remove a nearby floodway easement, saying it is out of date.

Landscape architect Thais Del Castillo said the new building would house 30 additional health care providers and 80 support staff, offering the following services: cardiology, dermatology and Mohs surgery, gastroenterology, general surgery, neurology, OB-GYN, orthopedics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, urology, and a lab.

Asked how Sutter Health would handle the construction traffic with patients at the existing building, Del Castillo said Sutter Health is working out the logistics with its contractor, helped by the fact that it owns the site.

Commissioner Sandra Poole and Commission Chair Suman Singha commended staff for the detail in the report, with Poole noting the project is “certainly needed in Elk Grove.”

The commission approved the item with a 5-0 vote.

Planning unanimously approved an increase to Old Town Elk Grove’s cap on permits for bars, breweries, wineries and brew pubs, raising it from three permits to six.

City Council at its Sept. 11 meeting instructed staff to draw up the amendment to the Old Town Special Planning Area, as the city has already granted the three allowed permits.

Planning Manager Antonio Ablog said the recipients of the permits are Coatza Brewing Co., Dust Bowl Brewing Co. and, most recently, the planned Elk Grove Pub to the west of the Union Pacific tracks.

Bob’s Club operates with city approval but does not count toward the cap. Other businesses, such as restaurants, may sell alcohol under different licenses.

The city is aware of interest in opening businesses such as wine tasting rooms, Ablog said, but it could not consider such projects due to the permit cap.

Ablog addressed concerns that he said the city has heard about additional liquor permits. Ablog said the hours of operation of any applicant would be limited by a conditional use permit based on the business’ requests and effects such as excess noise on surrounding properties. 

The Planning Commission’s decision allows the city to consider new permit applications but any proposed permit will need individual approval from the commission.

Ablog added that Elk Grove Police Department did not see a particular increase in crime associated with the original three permits and the department raised no objection to raising the cap.

Ablog said staff considers permit applications on a first-come-first-served basis.

Poole noted concerns about the safety of the nearby railroad crossing for pedestrians. Ablog said the city does not have specific plans for improvements to the crossing but is “aware of the safety aspect and (has) looked into what options could be available as we look to implement additional safety measures at the crossing.”

During public comment, Historical Preservation Committee member Peggy Forseth-Andrew requested that her committee have an opportunity to review the proposal. She said that “anything that takes place within the historic district affects the historic district.”

Ablog later told commissioners that comprehensive updates to the special planning area will be brought to the Historical Preservation Committee; however, he said the permit cap is solely a “land-use question” that expands an existing use. If a future application concerns a historic property, Ablog said, that matter would first go to the Historical Preservation Committee.

Three Old Town residents voiced worries that new permits would harm the quality of life in Old Town. The three residents said they have repeatedly called the police over noise complaints and intoxicated patrons from existing businesses.

Commissioner Juan Fernandez said he has heard similar noise complaints and asked if the city can measure sound levels in the area. Development Services director Christopher Jordan said staff planned to work with the public commenters to assess the issue.

Commissioner Oscar O’con said he spoke to Old Town business owners and “heard a lot of support.”

The commissioners voted 5-0 to increase the liquor permit cap.