Changes to Target center denied

<p>The City Council is expected to review a proposal by developers to include four larger stores rather than the six originally planned in a Target-based shopping center, after the proposal was denied by the Planning Commission on Tuesday.</p><p>“We expect there to be an appeal, and that the City Council will discuss it in September,” said Councilmember Mike Healy, regarding Regency Centers' proposal.</p><p>A majority of the seven-member Planning Commission was required to approve the proposal. Three members — Dennis Elias, Jennifer Pierre and Bill Wolpert — voted for the plan while chair Curtis Johansen voted against it. Melissa Abercrombie and Alicia Kae Herries recused themselves from voting because they previously signed a “smart development” petition.</p><p>“The petition was created by Melissa to encourage responsible development in Petaluma,” Herries said. “I signed the Responsible Retail Development in Petaluma petition in October 2007. In an effort to not appear biased, I chose to recuse myself from the discussion.”</p><p>Chris Albertson, the City Council liaison on the commission, was not present at the meeting.</p><p>Regency Centers presented the proposal after identifying prospective tenants. The proposal stipulates that four buildings would consist of less than 50,000 square feet, and another building that was planned to occupy 42,000 square feet would have been reduced to 16,500 square feet. Plans call for Target to utilize 140,000 square feet.</p><p>One of the prospective tenants is T.J. Maxx Home Goods. The others were not identified because Regency still is negotiating with them, but they include national stores that carry sporting goods and farmer's market-style groceries.</p><p>“A positive sign is that some specific new tenants have come forward,” Healy said. “The proposal was an effort to address their needs.”</p><p>Regency also is requesting to increase the size of “end cap” buildings near a promenade and pedestrian walkway, and wants to alter its plans for a parking lot and plaza area near a pedestrian overpass entryway, as well as a parking lot on the south side of the East Washington Place shopping center.</p><p>The changes would not affect the total size of the shopping center, which is expected to consist of some 378,000 square feet of commercial and office space, but would decrease some pedestrian areas.</p><p>Phone calls to Ryan Nickelson of Regency Centers regarding plans for the center and prospective tenants were not returned.</p><p>Contact Dan Johnson at dan.johnson@arguscourier.com)</p>