COLTON-Despite a gloomy economy and the city's financial woes, officials say the proposed Super Block and Pellissier Ranch developments are still viable projects.
Plans for both are still in the works, but there's no timetable for when they'll be completed or when construction could begin, officials say.
"We've done a lot of work," said Mayor Kelly Chastain. "I don't want it to be put on a back shelf. It's still doable so we need to be ready when the economy is on an upturn."
The Superblock is envisioned as a 250-acre, high-end, mixed-use development, similar to Citrus Plaza in Redlands, that would include medical office buildings to jockey the neighboring Arrowhead Region Medical Center.
"It's important that we do leverage the amenities we do have in our city, like a major hospital, to create revenue for our city," said Councilman Vince Yzaguirre.
Its site, between Valley Boulevard and San Bernardino Avenue south to north and Pepper and Riverside avenues east to west, is home to the endangered Delhi Sands flower-loving fly.
The city is in the process of seeking approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a Habitat Conservation Plan that will propose an alternate habitat area for the fly. Approval must come before construction can occur.
The city has purchased a neighboring chunk of land for about $4 million that has been proposed as alternative fly habitat, Yzaguirre said.
lies where the Pellissier Ranch is planned, near the Santa Ana River, 215 Freeway and Riverside County border. Plans call for nearly 3,000 upscale homes, two schools and a town center on 500 to 600 acres of developable land, according to city reports.
Former City Manager Daryl Parrish and former Assistant City Manager Mark Nuaimi were the chief architects behind plans for both developments. With their departure, development could move in a different direction.
"We're kind of at square one again of looking at where everything is," said Councilman David Toro, whose District 1 encompasses the Super Block project area. "We're back to the drawing board."
Toro said he'd like to see city staff provide the council with alternate options for both project areas so development could begin sooner. Toro says with current plans, construction may not come for 10 years or more.
"I think there's potential of doing things now and bringing jobs and revenue to the city now," Toro said. "Being in my district and probably having the last and best area for growth, I want to make sure the best thing happens there."
Quote
