MENIFEE -- A large shopping center planned in the heart of Menifee has become the latest target in a mysterious string of lawsuits involving Target and Wal-Mart stores with large grocery sections.

The three suits allege violations of the California Environmental Quality Act. In the latest, an entity called Menifee Citizens for Smart Growth alleges that county officials failed to give adequate notice of public hearings Dec. 19 and Jan. 23. The suit, filed Feb. 26, also alleges unspecified "findings not supported by substantial evidence."

The Riverside County government gave developers the final go-ahead in early February to build on 70 acres at the southwest corner of the Newport Road freeway interchange. At 735,000 square feet, Countryside Marketplace Shopping Center would become the largest retail center in Menifee.

It would include a "SuperTarget" store. The current Target discount department store across Interstate 215 would relocate there and add a large grocery section. It would include one other large department store and five restaurants, according to the developer.

Cory Briggs, the Upland attorney who filed the suit, didn't respond to an e-mail and phone message seeking comment this week.

It isn't clear exactly what the organization is or whether it has members who live in Menifee.

"Petitioner's members reside in or near the County of Riverside, California, and have an interest in protecting the region's air quality, minimizing and ameliorating traffic, ensuring informed and responsible growth, and promoting other environment-related quality-of-life issues," Briggs wrote in the suit.

Supervisor Jeff Stone, whose district includes Menifee, said residents have been vocal in demanding shopping centers closer to home; local shoppers now must drive as far as Temecula, he said. Stone said he wasn't aware of any Menifee residents behind the suit.

"It's certainly not for the benefit of Menifee," Stone said.

Briggs has also filed a lawsuit on behalf of a corporation called Murrietans for Smart Growth over a planned shopping center in the northeastern corner of that city, which would also include a SuperTarget. Another suit filed by Briggs this year, Blythe Citizens for Smart Growth v. City of Blythe, involves a Wal-Mart SuperCenter that the city approved. City officials in Murrieta and Blythe said they hadn't had any contact with the "Murrietans" or "Blythe Citizens" who were suing the cities. Briggs registered both as California nonprofit corporations Jan. 2, a day before suing the city of Murrieta and two weeks before suing Blythe.

Briggs didn't respond to several calls The Californian placed after the Murrieta suit was filed.

Menifee Citizens for Smart Growth doesn't appear to be registered as a legal entity in the state, according to the California secretary of state's office. It would have to be registered in another state in order to file the suit, USC law professor Noel Ragsdale said.

The county's attorneys briefed the Board of Supervisors on the suit during a closed-door meeting Tuesday. Supervisor Bob Buster couldn't be reached for comment this week. Stone was out of town on county business.

An attorney for the county declined to comment.

The shopping center is scheduled to be completed some time next year. A representative of the developer, Donahue Schriber Realty Group LP of Costa Mesa, said he expected the lawsuit to impede construction of the shopping center, planned for a tract along Haun Road and north of Holland Road.

"At this time, I don't know exactly what that impact will be," the representative, Jeff Chambers, added.

Chambers said current plans call for the SuperTarget, a second department store and two fast-food restaurants. Donahue Schriber is in negotiations with BJ's Restaurant & Brew House -- a trendy, slightly upscale eatery -- and Red Robin and TGI Friday's, both casual-dining restaurants, Chambers said.

The shopping center would become the largest within the boundaries of Menifee Valley, a proposed city that would include Menifee, Sun City and Quail Valley. Sales taxes typically account for 30 percent to 50 percent of a mature city's revenue. Cityhood proponents are counting heavily on local shopping centers to help fund a city government.

A consultant hired by the proponents is now analyzing the would-be city's revenue sources to determine whether they would be sufficient to fund municipal services in that area.

Blythe City Manager Les Nelson said a Wal-Mart SuperCenter and surrounding retail complex proposed in his city had generally been well-received. Several residents had also spoken out against it, but had come to city officials with a relative handful of specific concerns. Briggs submitted a large packet detailing his objections just a few hours before the comment period ended, Nelson said. It wasn't clear how many Blythe residents Briggs represented, he added.

"We haven't seen one," Nelson said. "We're not sure there is anybody, quite frankly. We've had a slew of public hearings and committee workshops. The legitimate people come in and they write and we work with them."

- Staff writer Brian Eckhouse contributed to this report. Contact staff writer Chris Bagley at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2615, or cbagley@californian.com. Comment at www.californian.com.