Target seeks final approval for South Vista store

By: CRAIG TENBROECK - Staff Writer
Environmental group drops objections | Friday, February 8, 2008 11:03 PM PST ∞

VISTA ---- A local environmental group has dropped its objections to a proposed Target commercial center in the south Vista Business Park, potentially clearing the way for the project to move forward.

Last fall, Preserve Calavera, an organization dedicated to the preservation of natural land in coastal North County, appealed the city Planning Commission's approval of the project.

But in the weeks that followed, the company met with the group, discussed its concerns and tweaked the plan, a city report states.

"We don't love the idea of another big box retail store, but we're pleased that Target took our concerns seriously," Diane Nygaard, president of Preserve Calavera, said Friday.

She said the group no longer opposed the project. "This is really a win-win for everybody," she said.

Target Corp., the nation's second-largest discount chain, plans to build a 140,000-square-foot store on the northeast corner of Business Park Drive and Poinsettia Avenue, a short hop from the Carlsbad and San Marcos borders. Alongside the anchor building, Target would reserve smaller spaces in the commercial center for a retail store and a restaurant, both to be built later.

Preserve Calavera's appeal triggered a public hearing before the City Council. That meeting is slated for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 600 Eucalyptus Ave.

To address Preserve Calavera's concerns, Target reduced the size of the two smaller building pads by 5,000 square feet and moved one of them to a different area.

This will preserve some of the coastal sage scrub on site and cut down on traffic, city officials have said.

Target only opens stores three times a year: in March, July and October. Last October, the chain held grand openings for 61 stores nationwide, including eight in California, bringing its total to 1,591.

The south Vista store would be the company's second location in the city. The first Target in Vista opened in 1997 in the North County Square shopping center on University Drive near Sycamore Avenue.

Contact staff writer Craig TenBroeck at (760) 901-4062 or ctenbroeck@nctimes.com.

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