Walgreens seeking green light
Public hearing tentatively set for March 3
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

Simi Valley will soon have its first Walgreens pharmacy if the City Council decides to approve the project within the next month.

The proposal by Evergreen Devco, Inc. calls for a 10,000square-foot pharmacy with a drive-through window to be built in the Freeway Center on the northwest corner of Sycamore Drive and Cochran Street.

A public hearing for the project before the City Council is tentatively scheduled for March 3.

Kayman Wong, who represents the developer, said a new Walgreens would contribute $135,000 in sales tax to the city during its first three years of operation and $300,000 in sales tax each year thereafter.

The developer is also predicting that the new pharmacy would encourage neighboring businesses to rehabilitate their facilities and modernize the area.

"Evergreen and the city have been working very diligently to create a design that's compatible with the neighborhood," Wong said.

Last week, the Simi Valley Planning Commission voted 4-1 to recommend the project for approval. Commissioner Mike McGuigan was the sole dissenter, citing potential problems with traffic and the drive-through.

According to city building requirements, the minimum stacking distance- length of the pharmacy's drive-through- must be 150 feet. But Evergreen requested a reduction of the stacking distance to 85 feet based on their studies that the proposed distance would be able to accommodate the vehicles "99 percent of the time."

"I would certainly like to see a Walgreens come to town," McGuigan said. "Lots of people ask me when we're going to get it. But I personally have problems with the drive-through.

"The bottom line is I'm not comfortable with this project coming forward with this design and this size. At this time, I can't support this project," he said.

Still, other members of the commission said they were happy with the design and that they didn't think the drive-through would be a problem.

"I like the project," said chairperson Tim Shannon. "I think it takes an otherwise drab corner and adds a little life to it."

If the City Council approves the proposal, Evergreen would demolish an 8,830-square-foot building previously used for an optometrist's office and build the Walgreens in its place. The pharmacy would abut Millie's Restaurant, Big Lots and Do-it Center.

Wong said 150 local people would be employed during the construction phase, while the store itself would create 40 new full-time and part-time jobs once it's open.