Wildomar Planning Commission Gives Green Light To New Strip Center

Development of a multi-tenant retail building in Wildomar, just west of the 15 Freeway on Bundy Canyon Road and Angels Lane, received approval from the city planning commission Wednesday night.

In a unanimous vote, the Wildomar commissioners gave approval to move forward on the 10,500-square-foot building to be located at 21940 Bundy Canyon Road, next door to an existing Jack in the Box restaurant.

According to property owner Onkar Sud, the proposed building will house a Subway restaurant. Leases on additional building spaces have not been signed, he said, noting that there is room for approximately six more tenants in the proposed center.

Sud said he owns another 24 Subway stores, including the restaurant located in the Albertson’s shopping center at Clinton Keith Road in Wildomar, and he is using his own money to finance the proposed project’s construction.

The project, which is located on a 1.27-acre pad, is expected to feature modern, contemporary design, with an earth-tone stucco exterior and 28-foot-high rectangular columns wrapped in stone veneer, according to Dan Cline, principal architect on the proposed development.

During the meeting, Wildomar resident George Taylor said he supports the project, but has concerns about design fit with Wildomar’s rural character.

As part of the process for moving the project forward, the planning commission was unanimous in its vote Wednesday to change the property’s zone from Rural Residential to General Commercial.

“This is a ranch-style community,” Taylor said, noting that the project’s modern elements might not blend with existing architecture.

Taylor also cautioned against a glut of chain restaurants for Wildomar.

“I hope we don’t use this as a license to become the fast-food capital of the world,” he said.

During Wednesday's meeting, Wildomar resident Sheryl Ade expressed concern about the lack of an adequate buffer between the proposed new building and existing residences.

Ade said she supports the project but wants to see it done right, including ensuring that nearby residents would not be affected by noise and drainage problems.

Sud said he will do what it takes to make the project work for the community, including planting trees in the 10-foot buffer area that separates the project from housing.

“We want to make the neighbors happy,” he said.

Wildomar resident Gary Andre said he too supports the project but also expressed concern about drainage issues.

City Engineer Steve Palmer countered the concerns and said he believes “the project has been reviewed appropriately.”

Longtime Wildomar resident Maria Walker said she is happy to see a new restaurant move into town.

“Our kids need a place to eat besides Jack in the Box,” she said.

While the center will not have LEED Gold certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), according to Sud it will feature some “green” elements, including solar panels.

“We will be the first Subway of this kind in California,” he said.

The project still has to get sign-off from city council and is slated to go before council members during the regularly scheduled July 27 council meeting, according to Wildomar Planning Director Matthew Bassi.