RSS Feed
Print Story
E-mail Story
New way to shop pitched
Smaller, neighborhood market would appeal to residents, developer says
| Tuesday, Oct 16 2007 10:30 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Oct 16 2007 10:55 PM
A new approach to grocery stores may be coming to southwest Bakersfield. Let residents clamoring for closer-to-home shopping rejoice.
BAKERSFIELD.COM HOT TOPICS:
Loading Stories
Advertisement
Graphics:
Fresh & easy, a neighborhood market from British food giant Tesco, would be a tenant at a shopping center at White Lane and Buena Vista Road, south of Stockdale High School.
The stores, which are 10,000 square feet, are smaller than mainstream grocers. Prepared meals and gourmet items are available.
The Bakersfield Planning Commission will consider on Thursday whether to approve a zone change to accommodate the fresh & easy, Walgreens, two fast-food restaurants, a grocery store, Starbucks with a drive-through lane and a Cruz Thru car wash, said Raymond Roselle, a co-owner of Cruz Thru and development partner in Mustang Square LLC.
Developer Tom Carosella, one of Roselle's partners in the shopping center venture, said shoppers won't have to walk through a huge store to get to the dairy cabinet. He's excited to bring southwest residents shopping opportunities.
"I think everything we're putting in there is badly needed in that location," Carosella said.
Several fresh & easy stores will open in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties on Nov. 8, said a company spokesman.
Even though the stores are smaller, "you can get everything you need to run your house," said Brendan Wonnacott.
The land for the center was bought for nearly $4.7 million in March, according to records from the Kern County Assessor's Office.
Commissioners will also consider:
• A zone change request by the Michel and Margaret Etcheverry Family LLC to build homes on land that's now used for an almond orchard. There are about 43 acres on the south side of 7th Standard Road, west of the Calloway Canal. Approximately 300 single- or multi-family homes, a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. substation and oil extraction infrastructure would be built. The applicants have asked that the land be annexed into the city of Bakersfield.
• Applicant Hageman & Allen Inc., is proposing a zone change and annexation for about 27 acres south of Hageman Road, west of Piedmont Avenue and northeast of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks.
The project would add about 68 single-family homes on quarter-acre lots and some light industrial or commercial tenants along Hageman Road.
• A proposed subdivision with two parcels on nearly 37 acres zoned for heavy industrial purposes on East Pacheco Road, about one-quarter mile west of Cottonwood Road. The applicants are Jesus and Adriana Contreras. The site features a 20-acre parcel for pallet storage and an office and nearly 17 acres of vacant land for industrial use. The applicants are Jesus and Adriana Contreras.
• Condos and an office/medical complex may occupy existing structures at Brimhall Road and River Ranch Drive proposed by JC/CP Development Inc.
• Six single-family lots on 2.6 acres north of Noriega Road and west of Old Farm Road. Jim Gardner is the property owner.
How to go
The commission meets at 5:30 p.m. at 1501 Truxtun Ave.
You can watch the meeting live on KGOV, the local government television station that also broadcasts meetings over the Internet.
The agenda is available at www.bakersfieldcity.us under the Development Services Department link.