MISSION VIEJO : City to Hold Hearing on Home Depot Plan

Neighbors of a proposed 120,000-square-foot home garden center will have one more chance to protest the development plans at tonight’s City Council meeting.

More than 100 residents are expected to jam City Hall to express dissatisfaction with the recent approval of a Home Depot Center by the Planning Commission last month.

In their appeal before the council, leaders of two homeowners groups representing about 450 residences near Marguerite and Crown Valley parkways are expected to attack environmental and traffic studies done on the 9.7-acre site.

The groups claim that studies done by the project developer seriously underestimated the amount of traffic expected at the home garden store. Company officials estimate that the Home Depot Center at that location will bring in $38 million during its first year.

The Marguerite and Crown Valley parkways intersection is already one of the busiest in the city. Traffic is expected to increase with future development and a planned road extension that would connect the area with the Rancho Santa Margarita community.

Despite the objections of many residents, the commission approved the plans, saying the project conformed to high-density uses permitted by city zoning maps.

City officials also point to potential revenue through the Crown Valley Parkway Corridor program, which charges a road fee to new development. The city also hopes to attract state and county funding to help improve traffic conditions on Crown Valley Parkway.

The Planning Commission appeal was filed by Councilman Robert A. Curtis, who said the issue was important enough to all Mission Viejo residents to warrant a full hearing before the council.