Countywide : Auto Mall Opponents Fail to Sway Board

The County Board of Supervisors has unanimously rejected efforts by some Rancho Santa Margarita residents to block construction of a 35-acre retail auto center in the South County community.

The auto mall, designed to accommodate as many as 10 car dealers, is to be built at the corner of Santa Margarita Parkway and the Foothill Transportation Corridor.

A few residents criticized the project, saying it would cause traffic and pollution problems, obstruct some views and decrease property values. The residents were appealing approval of the project in August by the County Planning Commission.

But others who attended Tuesday’s board hearing on the appeal said they supported the project because it would create jobs, boost the local economy and generate tax revenues.

Supervisor Marian Bergeson said the concerns expressed by project opponents will be addressed by the developer. The auto mall has long been part of Rancho Santa Margarita’s master plan and does not exceed the scope of local zoning rules, Bergeson noted.

The auto mall is expected to generate substantial tax revenue, something the unincorporated community will need to pay for various services if it decides to become a city, Supervisor William G. Steiner said.