A rendering of the Neighborhood Healthcare medical clinic planned for the Sun City area of Menifee.
The Menifee Planning Commission unanimously approved plans Wednesday for a new Neighborhood Healthcare medical clinic in the Sun City area that is expected to expand the organization’s capacity from about 5,700 patients to 15,000.
The approximately 22,000-square-foot clinic will be built on 2.03 acres on the east side of Bradley Road, south of Cherry Hills Boulevard and west of I-215. Plans include 110 parking spaces, landscaping, lighting and access from Bradley Road.
Neighborhood Healthcare already operates a smaller Menifee location at 26926 Cherry Hills Blvd.
“We want to increase our footprint here, so we can see more patients in a building that they deserve,” said Mike DeLeon, director of facilities for Neighborhood Healthcare.
The new facility is expected to offer medical care, women’s health, behavioral health, senior adult care and urgent care. Neighborhood Healthcare representatives also discussed dental and pediatric care and said a pharmacy is expected to be included.
Gloria Sanchez, chair of the Menifee Senior Advisory Committee, was the only member of the public to speak during the hearing. She asked about the clinic’s urgent care hours, parking, transportation, veteran services and accessibility.
“It’s great to have these things available, but we have to get there,” Sanchez said, pointing to the need for transportation for seniors.
Neighborhood Healthcare representatives said transportation would be available for those participating in its adult care services program.
Urgent care will not initially be open 24 hours a day, although DeLeon said the organization hopes to eventually expand its hours.
Commissioners also questioned whether the six handicap parking spaces planned for the facility would be enough given the area’s senior population.
“Six handicapped spots at a 20,000-square-foot building that deals with medical issues is not really a lot,” Vice Chair Michael Knighten said.
City staff said six spaces meet the requirement based on the total number of parking spaces. The applicant could add more, although staff said doing so could affect other parking and landscaping requirements. No additional spaces were added as a condition of approval.
Commissioner Tammy Ramirez also raised concerns about a gap in the sidewalk south of the property, saying she had seen residents walking and using mobility devices along Bradley Road. She asked whether Neighborhood Healthcare would install a temporary asphalt walkway to connect the project’s sidewalk with the existing sidewalk farther south.
DeLeon agreed, and the temporary walkway was added to the project’s conditions of approval.
