A conceptual rendering shows the long-term vision for Haun Parkway. The plans are still in the early vision stage. (Courtesy of City of Menifee)
City officials shared a long-term vision at Wednesday’s Planning Commission meeting that could transform Haun Road into a major destination for shopping, dining, entertainment, housing and jobs.
The Haun Parkway initiative focuses on a roughly three-mile stretch from Newport Road to Keller Road. While the project is still in the early vision stage, city officials said the goal is to create a unique area where residents can work, shop and play without leaving Menifee.
Kayla Charters, Menifee’s economic development director, said the city has been working behind the scenes with landowners and developers along the corridor.
“We really want to make sure what we are doing in Menifee is focused on creating a unique identity for ourselves,” Charters said. “We want to make sure that we’re not doing something that our neighboring cities are doing.”
According to Charters, the vision includes several different areas along Haun Parkway, including the Paloma District, Riverwalk District, Evergreen District, Hilltop District, Patriotic District and Innovation District.
The Riverwalk District concept would turn existing blue line streams into a possible waterfront amenity with shopping, dining and gathering spaces.
Charters said the city is looking at ways to address some of Menifee’s challenges, including residents leaving the city for shopping, entertainment and work. She said Menifee has about $2.2 billion in unmet demand from residents spending money in other communities and about 90 percent of the city’s workforce commutes outside of Menifee.
“We want to create jobs locally, so that we can have our residents off the roads, working closer to home, so that they’re spending more time with their families,” Charters said.
City officials emphasized the concepts shown are not final plans and no construction timeline has been set. Future developments would still go through the city’s regular approval process.
Planning commissioners expressed support for the overall concept while inquiring about transportation, parking, landscaping and how realistic the vision would be.
“I especially liked the vision that the city is moving toward,” Commissioner Tammy Ramirez said. “The idea of a riverwalk is very nice. I think it’s a great amenity for the city.”
Community Development Director Orlando Hernandez said the vision is doable because the city is working with property owners who control land along the corridor.
“It’s not just something that we hope could be done,” Hernandez said. “It’s actually something that we’re working with property owners that they want to make this happen.”
No formal action was taken by the Planning Commission. The presentation was informational.
