New Calimesa retail center approved by Planning Commission

The Marketplace at Calimesa, a new commercial shopping center on the west side of Interstate 10, was unanimously approved last week by the Calimesa Planning Commission.

The Development Plan Review of the approximate 17-acre center includes a grocery store, drive-through restaurants and fitness center and is located on the northeast corner at Tukwet Canyon Parkway/Cherry Valley Boulevard and Desert Lawn Drive. It is part of the Summerwind Trails development, which is expected to complete a few model homes by January 2019. At build-out, Summerwind Trails is planned for 3,600-3,700 residential units.

“On the drive-through restaurants, I want to commend whoever did the designing on those,” said Commissioner Mike Barron before the vote on Oct. 8.

“Excellent job with the 18-foot radius turnaround on those,” Barron added. “They are nice and wide. Guys like me with big wide trucks can actually drive through those things. I’d like to see that person come back and do some more things for us.”

The Marketplace also includes space for office use, a convenience store with fuel station and other food/service restaurants. Adjacent to the Marketplace is a parcel owned by CVS Pharmacy, which is not proposing development at this time, according to the agenda.

The center’s proposed architectural style is consistent with the “California Ranch” design of Summerwind Trails. That design includes hip and gable roofs, and broad overhangs, while the landscaping calls for low to moderate-watering plants.

“I would just like to be thankful that this development company is willing to take on this project,” Commissioner John Keith said after the 5-0 vote about Lewis Retails Center. “They have a great reputation for many, many years.”

“I too concur. I am thankful and grateful that Lewis Retails is doing this project,” Commissioner Larry Smith said. “They have a great reputation.”

Smith then asked Planning Manager Kelly Lucia if she had received any opposition letters to the Marketplace. Lucia replied that she had not.

“Good, people are realizing the value of this project,” Smith said. “I, for one, think this is a great step forward for the city of Calimesa.”

Commission Chair Michael Brittingham was excited about the Marketplace for those living at that end of Calimesa and Beaumont.

“Everyone that lives over on that side of the freeway are probably just ‘Yay, about time.’ I know it’s been a travel for everyone over there, so hopefully they will appreciate it,” Brittingham said in closing.

“We are going to be very busy the next few months so expect to get a lot of nice packets coming forward pretty soon,” Lucia said to the commission about upcoming projects. “It’s an exciting time in Calimesa.”