July 2 Public Hearing Will Focus on Menifee Town Center Plans

A public hearing regarding an amendment to the Menifee Town Center specific plan will be held July 2 at City Hall.

The City of Menifee has scheduled a public hearing during the July 2 city council meeting to discuss and receive public comment about a proposed amendment to the specific plan development agreement for Menifee Town Center.

Residents have recently seen the first indications of development of the 172-acre lot on the southwest corner of Newport Road and Haun Road -- all on the Newport Road side. A road beginning at the intersection of Newport Road and Avenida de Cortez -- named Town Center Drive -- is not yet open to traffic but has been paved all the way to La Piedra Road, near the new Santa Rosa Academy. A gateway sign marks what will be the north entrance to Menifee Town Center.

Of course, this is just the beginning.

Amendment No. 1 to the Town Center Specific Plan development agreement proposes to extend the city's agreement with Stark Menifee Land, LLC for four years, calling for certain adjustments within the plot plan. Changes to the master plan for a Central Park will be discussed, along with changes to the pedestrian bridge plan and other modifications.

Amendment No. 1 was approved by a 4-1 vote by the planning commission to be sent to the city council.

In early May, city officials announced that the City of Menifee has reached agreement with Krikorian Premier Theaters to open a luxury theater complex on the site. It will include a 12-screen theater complex and 16-lane bowling alley, scheduled to open in summer 2015. Plans also include the construction of a new civic center on that property.

According to the notice of public hearing, the agreement "is intended to eliminate uncertainty in the city's land use planning process and secure orderly development of the Town Center Specific Plan, assure progressive installation of necessary improvements and mitigation appropriate to each stage of development of the Town Center Project."

Menifee Town Center is expected to include many retail businesses and restaurants, but no other businesses have committed at this point.

The July 2 city council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 29714 Haun Road.