Elk Grove city leaders are kicking off a full tune-up of the city’s Auto Mall, the long strip of dealerships and service centers off Elk Grove Boulevard and Laguna Springs Drive. The city has launched a process to craft a master plan that will spell out changes to design, marketing and infrastructure so the district can stay competitive as car buying habits shift and electric vehicles become more common. City staff say the process will involve consultant selection and public outreach before any major projects land on the approval line.
First reported by Ben van der Meer at the Sacramento Business Journal, the city’s notice says officials have opened the planning process and issued a call for proposals, as reported by Sacramento Business Journal. According to that report, the submission deadline for proposals is Friday, April 24, 2026.
The master planning effort appears in the city’s Measure E materials as “Automall: NEXT,” with a $150,000 allocation to prepare a master plan for the Auto Mall, according to the city’s Measure E budget packet. Those documents also note that the city relies heavily on sales tax revenue and that roughly 30% of local sales tax typically comes from auto transactions, a key reason staff say the district merits targeted investment.
Economic development officials have framed the project as part of a broader push to diversify and grow taxable retail and hospitality in Elk Grove, saying staff are “re-envisioning” the Auto Mall to drive sales tax growth. The council was briefed on the Auto Mall work alongside updates on Project Elevate and the Grant Line Business Park during a March economic update, as reported by Elk Grove Citizen.
What the Master Plan Would Cover
City materials say the Automall: NEXT study will examine physical design, business supports and marketing to “position the Auto Mall for maximum success over the next 25 years,” according to the Measure E packet. The scope described in the budget documents includes conceptual design, potential public investments and a funding and implementation strategy aimed at making improvements both feasible and durable.
Dealerships Are Already Investing
Dealerships in the Auto Mall are not waiting around for the final blueprint. Design approvals and expansion projects have continued through 2025. The Elk Grove Planning Commission approved plans in October for a two-story Subaru dealership that will include rooftop solar and electric vehicle charging stations, the kind of upgrades the master plan could end up encouraging, the Elk Grove Citizen reported.
Next Steps and Community Input
With proposals due April 24, the next steps are expected to include consultant selection, a public outreach schedule and eventual council review of recommended actions. The initial notice published in the Sacramento Business Journal lays out that submission deadline and says the city hopes the planning process will produce a clear set of near term improvements along with a longer roadmap for the Auto Mall’s future.
For now, Automall: NEXT marks a shift from ad hoc approvals to a coordinated district strategy that could reshape how Elk Grove sells and taxes cars for years to come. Residents and businesses that want to follow the process should keep an eye on city council agendas and Measure E updates for workshop dates and proposal outcomes.
