Menifee Town Center Gets Put On Hold

The "Town Center" project, dubbed as Menifee's future downtown, with shops, medical offices, business offices, restaurants, movie theater, courthouse, and condominiums, has been put on hold, at least until March 15th.

At issue is recent news that the courthouse the State of California is considering building there, will actually be a parolee processing center.

The city council was to consider the second reading of the Town Center Specific Plan, which if it had been approved, would have put the wheels in motion. The city council had actually approved the Specific Plan during its first reading, but last Tuesday ended up postponing the vote on the second reading.

"SB18 could dump 35,000 parolees on to our streets", said Tom Fuhrman, who initiated the motion to delay the reading, and went on to say that he had discussed this matter with officials at the State. "My concensus is that it will happen".

At that point, Daniel Gryczman, a representative from Regent Properties, the company responsible for the project, stepped up the podium to offer a solution. "When we heard there were parolees coming, we were concerned. We don't want that for our project", Gryczman said. "We'd be glad to offer the city a 50% discount on the land if we're not going to give it to the courthouse."

City councilmember Darcy Kuenzi added with a stern voice, "Our number one priority to this city is to bring jobs. Delaying this item is not good for this city. The parolee center, I certainly have concerns about that." Kuenzi further pointed out that concerns over the courthouse could be addressed in the Development Agreement, which the council is saving for last to consider.

"I disagree that this will bring more jobs to Menifee" city council member Fred Twyman countered. "Because it brings more residents to Menifee, there will be a net loss of jobs."

Mayor Edgerton raised the issue of timing, "The Planning Department felt they were pushed, and they complained." he said. "Had we pushed this on the first night, the ad hoc committee would not have gotten the concessions", he went on to say, favoring to spend more time before letting the project continue.

Back on January 18th, the city council voted to approve much of the components of the Town Center, with the exception of the development agreement, pointing out that they wanted to wait until the new city manager had a chance to evaluate. Since then, the city announced it had hired William Rawlings as its new city manager, and Rawlings was in attendance during this second reading.

Tom Fuhrman spoke, "I spoke to Rawlings if he was 100% satisfied with this project, and he said was not 100% satisfied." Mayor Edgerton added, "The city manager did look at this, and didn't agree with everything." adding fuel to the argument that delaying the second reading was necessary.

"The longer we delay this project, the more we risk losing those jobs!" Darcy Kuenzi said, pointing out that tenants slated to fill the proposed medical office building are also looking at buildings in Murrieta and Temecula. "I want those jobs for our city!"

In the end, the council voted 3 to 2 to delay the second reading the Town Center Specific Plan, with Fuhrman, Twyman, and Edgerton voting to delay, Denver and Kuenzi voting to pass.