Here is a rendering of the AutoZone store within the Sunridge Plaza shopping center. Photo courtesy of the City of Rancho Cordova

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Rancho Cordova Planning Commission at its Feb. 12 meeting discussed several important matters, including the appointment of a new commissioner, a major design review for a new retail development and the selection of leadership for the upcoming year.

The Planning Commission officially welcomed Rehana Rehman as the newest member as she was sworn in during the meeting.

Another agenda item was the nomination and selection of the 2025 Planning Commission chair and vice-chair. According to commission procedures, the vice-chair automatically transitions into the role of chair the following year.

“I am gladly going to turn this over and nominate Vice-Chair Lee Frechette to take over as chairperson and would like to nominate Commissioner Tegan Knifton to be vice-chair,” Chair Cynthia Stauss said.

The motion was passed with a unanimous 5-0 vote.

“I want to say thank you to you, Chair Stauss, for the example that you set. Those are going to be hard seats to follow,” said Knifton.

Strauss, in turn, acknowledged the support of her fellow commissioners and shared her excitement for the upcoming year.

“Thank you for the trust you placed in me. I am very excited with all of our new commissioners,” said Stauss.

The Planning Commission also reviewed a major design proposal for an AutoZone store within the Sunridge Plaza shopping center, located at 4004 Sunrise Blvd. The application, submitted in August 2024, requested approval for the construction of a 6,700-square-foot, single-story building, which would include 15 new parking spaces.

The site, which is located on the last vacant parcel within the shopping center, is zoned General Commercial (GC), consistent with the surrounding area. The applicant proposed a modern design for the building and a new maximum footprint to accommodate the retail space.

City staff explained that the project was deemed exempt from further California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analysis, a decision that the commission supported. The development would be the latest addition to the bustling shopping center.

During the discussion, Commissioner Surender Devarapalli inquired about the building’s color scheme and whether it would align with other businesses in the area. City staff confirmed that it would. After a brief deliberation, the five commissioners unanimously approved the project.

The next Planning Commission meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive.