Walmart Submits Plans To Build In Lake Elsinore

Details are just coming in on what has been anticipated for months: Walmart has submitted plans to the City of Lake Elsinore to build on property located off Central Avenue.

During Tuesday night’s Lake Elsinore Planning Commission meeting, it was announced the giant retailer wants to build on the fenced-off property bordered by Central Avenue, 3rd Street and Cambern Avenue.

In addition to a store, the giant retailer is looking to provide retail space at the location for businesses that will enhance Walmart sales, such as restaurants, said Lake Elsinore Sr. Planner Richard MacHott.

MacHott said he has not had time to thoroughly review the massive stack of documents submitted by Walmart, which just arrived at the city last week.

Given the project is large-scale and will impact the environment and traffic in the city, an Environmental Impact Report is being drafted for the project. MacHott said he doesn’t expect the project to come to the planning commission for at least a year.

“It’s a very long process,” he said.

It’s unclear whether Walmart will keep its existing Lake Elsinore location on Grape Street if and when the new store opens.

According to city officials, about 25 percent of the land in which Walmart is planning to build was recently annexed by Lake Elsinore. Click here for more on the 3rd Street annexation story.