Council okays new west end shopping center
New store should open by early 2010

The City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved the construction of a Target store on the northwest corner of Madera and Tierra Rejada roads, the site of a closed Kmart store, bringing to an end months of discussion over contested conditions.

"I'm just glad this is the final day and you can start doing your demolition," Councilmember Barbra Williamson said during the special meeting of the City Council.

Although the planning commission had approved the development proposal Aug. 6, City Manager Mike Sedell appealed the commission's decision two days later so the council could review the project for any potential violations of the city's design guidelines. Overall, the City Council was pleased with what it saw.

"I'm happy to say I shop at a lot of Target stores and I have never seen one this beautiful," Councilmember Michelle Foster said.

The other council members agreed that the intersection is long overdue for a facelift and that Target's presence will help revitalize the area.

"That corner is going to be something special again in this community," Councilmember Glen Becerra said.

In addition to the 143,828square-foot Target store, the project calls for 9,200 square feet of shops adjacent to the east side of the building facing Madera. Another 7,700 square feet of existing retail space on the west side would be remodeled.

All the shops would reflect a Mediterranean architectural style similar to the Simi Valley Town Center, with design elements that use stone, earth-tone roof tile, decorative iron bars and vine metal lattices. The building would have large windows in the entry, café and office areas.

While articulation, landscaping and storm drainage had been the main issues of contention with planning commissioners, the council on Wednesday was primarily concerned with the construction of three bus turnout lanes.

According to a staff report, the project applicant was required to build three turnout lanes: one of the east side of Madera Road, one on the west side of Madera Road, and one on the north side of Tierra Rejada Road.

However, Target representatives said the northbound turnout on the east side of Madera Road and the Tierra Rejada Road turnout were unnecessary and would increase the project's already inflated budget.

The Tierra Rejada turnout, Target claimed, wasn't needed as there is no bus route on that street and no approved plan for growth of the transit lines.

At Councilmember Steve Sojka's suggestion, the council agreed to remove the condition to build a bus turnout on Tierra Rejada Road but kept both conditions for turnouts on Madera Road.

The city said the bus service that has been suspended on northbound Madera due to unsafe conditions would be restored once a turnout is constructed.

"This project will create traffic and I think it behooves Target to have easy access to the shopping center," Sojka said.

With the issues laid to rest, the council said thanks to Target for taking on the redevelopment of what has been a blighted corner since Kmart closed.

"There are very few sites left in the city for this type of massive redevelopment," Becerra said. "For a company to come in and make a massive investment to give back to the community and meet all the design standards—I just think it's going to be a great amenity to this community."

Eric Padget, development manager for Target, said he hopes to have the new store open by early 2010.

"Target is excited to build our new store in Simi Valley and serve our customers better," he told the Simi Valley Acorn after Wednesday's meeting. "Hopefully we got the best project for the community."

Jean Donahue, Friendly Village resident and longtime supporter of the development, said she has no doubt the city can support a second Target store and was thrilled by the council's approval.

"I can just see us all trooping down there," she said.