The Elk Grove City Council has given the green light to developing a prime section of Laguna Ridge, including a long-awaited lifestyle retail center west of the planned Civic Center.
On June 25, the council voted 5-0 to grant rezoning and entitlements for the Laguna Ridge Town Center, which is to include Elk Grove's first hospital. The rezone eliminated some home sites, but developers will in- crease housing density in other areas.
Two major big-box stores are planned for a 45-acre section southeast of Bruceville Road and Elk Grove Boulevard, said Mike Winn of Michael Winn Associates.
Development sources said Lowe's Home Improvement, a Costco membership store and Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets are in the process of securing sites.
Winn is representing two owners of land in the development area – Reynen & Bardis Communities and Craig Ehnisz, an Elk Grove commercial developer.
Panattoni Development Co. is buying the big-box site from Reynen & Bardis and Ehnisz. A 4-acre corner of that site will have high-density residential units, 30 to the acre.
Catholic Healthcare West, owner of Methodist Hospital, plans to develop a four- to six-story hospital as part of a 30-acre medical campus northwest of Civic Center and Wymark drives, Wendy Hoyt of the Hoyt Co. told the council.
Hoyt said the health care system plans to close escrow quickly on the land, which also is being purchased under separate contracts with Ehnisz and Reynen & Bardis.
And between Wymark Drive and Big Horn Boulevard, the council has given thumbs up to the Town Center's 20-acre "lifestyle center," a blend of boutique shops and other retail and professional offices. To the south will be more high-density housing.
Call The Bee's Loretta Kalb, (916) 478-2641. Bee columnist Bob Walter contributed to this report.
