By Allison Jarrell
The San Juan Capistrano City Council is set to consider an agreement at its Feb. 16 meeting with Costa Mesa developer Lab Holding, LLC, to “explore the feasibility” of the developer acquiring and creating a “unique commercial retail/lifestyle center” on the city’s Lower Rosan property.
City officials have been attempting to sell the Lower Rosan Ranch, a 16.48-acre property located north of Stonehill Drive, for years and were planning on selling it “through a brokerage,” according to staff. In contrast to past offers from big box stores such as Home Depot that created contention among residents and were ultimately rejected by the city, Lab Holding’s proposal is described by city staff as “a unique development concept unlike any of the other proposals that have been submitted for this property.”
If approved by the council, the proposed agreement with Lab Holding does not entail a binding sale of the property or any particular project. The agreement would create a limited term during which negotiations surrounding site plans, development standards, tenant mix, financing plans and a project schedule can be discussed.
Any potential development would go through an entitlement process and require commission and committee review.
I live less than 100′ from Lower Rosan in CVME. The thought of having a project similar to the LAB in Costa Mesa as a next door neighbor is exciting. My question is, why isn’t the City sending out RFP’s (Request for Proposals)? As nice as this project sounds and as great as Mr. Sadeghi’s credentials are, how do we know that this is the best use for this property? Lower Rosan has been vacant for a long, long time. What’s the rush and where is the transparency? How do we know that there isn’t a better use out there somewhere for the City (in revenue) and as a neighbor for the Senior Mobile Home park adjacent to Lower Rosan?
I would like to see a Walmart, this is a perfect place for a big box store..
Dusty,
Maybe you should go knock on the doors of the 100’s of homes that live near there and ask them if they want a big box store there. Do we really need another big box store? San Juan Capistrano has many local small businesses that are wonderful that may be threatened if a Walmart went in there. And it isn’t just 4 or 5 houses that would be affected. It would be 100’s of homes that are across the creek and the people in the mobile homes who will have to listen to delivery trucks at midnight, ,2 am, 4 am, etc. beeping their back up horns. This was the issue for the town homes, Stratford and Marlboro homes and the mobile home neighbors when Home Depot was proposed. These people advocated against a big box store at that location.
How about all those cars that would be on your choke point late at night,when you widen the ortega .the cars will be so close to those old historic homes,,,you better start knocking..lol
I don’t care about your mobile homes,there and eye sore anyways,I say build a Indian casino . instead.I hope a big box stores is built,buy ear plugs.
Dusty Otero,
It seems that you care more about the few homes on the Ortega who may have their homes slightly encroached on than for the safety of our children. I am sorry that some homes or people don’t live up to your high standards. I simply advised you to do what you told me to do which is to go knock on the doors of the hundreds of homeowners who will be affected by this decision that live near there to see if they want a Walmart there.