MISSION VIEJO : Commission Weighs Retail Center Project

The Planning Commission will get its first chance on Tuesday to review blueprints for a proposed 289,950-square-foot retail center near Interstate 5.

After considering the 49-acre project, the commission is expected to vote on the mall Sept. 20.

Known as the Mission Viejo Freeway Center, the retail center would be located on a strip of land between the Interstate 5 and Cabot Road. The property is owned by the Mission Viejo Co.

Plans submitted last July show that developers want to build a “power center,” an industry phrase for a group of high-volume, wholesale stores. The concept is similar to the much-larger Tustin Marketplace located several miles north of Mission Viejo, which spotlights discounters.

Current blueprints show six buildings ranging from 25,000 to 45,000 square feet that could house a clothing outlet such as TJ Maxx but are smaller than needed for a major department store.

Four restaurants, an auto repair center and several smaller retail stores are also envisioned by the developer.

Traffic, lighting and design aspects of the project will come before the commission at a Sept. 20 meeting.

Among the interested parties following the project will be city officials from Laguna Hills, which borders the project.

Laguna Hills’ desire to have influence over on what is built on the property has led to angry words and legal action between the two cities and the Mission Viejo Co. in recent years.

However, a court settlement was reached earlier this year between the three parties that restricts the mall’s size to less than 290,000 square feet and gives Laguna Hills the right to review and comment on the project.

Laguna Hills officials said Friday that they are following the mall’s progress closely.