Bear Brand Community Residents May Fight Commercial Center

Residents in the Bear Brand community will probably appeal the Planning Commission’s approval of plans for a 17-acre commercial center there, a community spokesman said Thursday.

The project, which calls for restaurants, office buildings and a six-screen theater on the northeast corner of Camino del Avion and Street of the Golden Lantern, was approved by the Planning Commission earlier this week.

The 3-2 vote was cast only after 34 conditions were attached to the project, senior planner Micki Harris said.

Commissioners Brian Fisk and Marc Winer voted against the project.

Community spokesman Paul Konapelsky said Thursday that homeowners are still unhappy about the project, which will block ocean views in the upscale neighborhood.

Residents’ main concerns revolve around the density of the center and the people and cars it will attract, he said.

The project is expected to generate an additional 14,060 automobile trips each day.

“The size of the project is the main issue, along with the types of uses within the project,” Konapelsky said. “The biggest issue is the movie theater.”

A proposed service station has been deleted from the project and a 65-foot monument has been replaced with a waterfall.

The overall size of the project has been reduced by about 3,800 square feet, according to the staff report.

The Planning Commission has final authority to approve the plans unless they are successfully appealed to the City Council.