Utah furniture store moves into Rocklin

A design modification to the Blue Oaks Town Center in Rocklin is making way for Rocklin's fifth furniture store, R.C. Willey home furnishings.The modification pas-sed with a 4-0 vote at the Rocklin City Council's March 8 meeting, allowing the R.C. Willey store to build its first California showroom in the center's northwest corner. The 117,000 square foot building will be the store's fourth home furnishings, floor covering, electronics and appliances showroom.In the meantime, the former Wal-Mart building on Five Star Boulevard is completing a remodel that accommodates four furniture stores. The first of the group, American Furniture Galleries, held its grand opening Saturday. The Room Source, Your Home Resort, and Bellach's will fill out the buildingThe approval also means plans for a hotel, office building and four large retail stores will be eliminated from the 61-acre Town Center to accommodate the large Willey showroom and attached warehouse.Rocklin planning services manager Sherri Abbas said R.C. Willey first approached the planning department early in November about the property on Lonetree Boulevard, across from the Redwood intersection."They have submitted for building permits," she said. "R.C. Willey coming to this site is part of the completion of the implementation of the General Plan. We have planned for a retail facility at this location since the annexation of the Sunset West area to Rocklin in 1995."Mayor Peter Hill said the council didn't have any questions about the Willey proposal and no changes were made to staff recommendations."The staff gave a report on the project. Then the project applicant's representative from Orem, Utah gave us a presentation about the company and what the store would be like," Hill said. Council member Kathy Lund was absent from the meeting.A PowerPoint presentation by Sean Thompson of VCBO Architects contained photos of the company's Las Vegas showroom. Thompson indicated the company that is owned by Brookshire Hathaway of Salt Lake City, plans to copy the Nevada design at the Blue Oaks location. Willey representative Marv Jensen explained the decision to make Rocklin the home of its first California site was made after researching the area."As we began to study the whole Sacramento area, Rocklin and Roseville were two of three areas of concentrated growth that had potential," Jensen said. "We found a corridor on Highway 65 that was vibrant and growing. And we located a beautiful piece of property with cooperative sellers."According to Jensen, the company is "absolutely delighted" with the cooperation it has received from city departments.Urrutia said company representatives were very informed about the Rocklin area when they approached the planning commission two weeks before the City Council vote. The only real changes were for them to enhance landscaping in the front and back."It was passed very favorably," Jensen said. "There were no contingencies applied to the project."Urrutia said R.C. Willey approached the city wanting to know if its plan could be processed so construction could begin in spring. "They already had an environmental clearance and a straightforward application," he said. "Construction begins in July with an opening on Memorial Day next year. We are excited and enthused about it."Officials say the furniture stores will create 300 new jobs locally and more tax revenue. The city is pleased with the new businesses and Willey's proposal."They liked the fact we were willing to work with them," Urrutia said. "They make about $80 million in sales each year, which means about $800,000 in sales taxes."In addition to store employees, Willey's is looking for a suitable location for its distribution center."The vast majority of employees will come from the local market," Jensen said. "Sales people, warehouse and support people will come from this area." Hill said the proposed building is quite impressive and of "high quality."-Brenda Meadows can be reached at keithr@goldcountrymedia.com.