(Image courtesy of Terramar Retail Centers)
APTOS — The Santa Cruz County Zoning Administrator on Friday will consider approving changes to the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center in Aptos, a decision that could be the final word on the controversial project.
Property owner Terramar Retail Centers, LLC is asking the county for approval to remodel exterior portions of the aging shopping complex and remodel the former Aptos Cinema building.
Terramar, which is based in Newport Beach, also wants to remove the drive-thru portion of the bank at the property, which would be replaced with landscaping and additional parking.
An upgrade of the parking lot would make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In addition, the company would replace the signs at the property. The so-called Master Sign Program would including installing four new signs, which at 2,000 square feet would be larger in area than the 1,260 currently allowed under county code.
None of the proposed changes require approval on a higher level, such as by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, according to Supervisor Zach Friend.
Zoning Administrator Wanda Williams will also decide Friday whether the changes are exempt from further environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act.
According to county staff, the proposal would not pose a threat to the health or safety of residents and is consistent with county code and the county’s general plan.
The project to remodel the busy shopping center at the corner of State Park and Soquel drives in Aptos has been controversial since it was proposed in 2012.
That was when Property Development Centers, a Safeway subsidiary that formerly owned the center, announced plans that included a major upgrade of the parking lot and replacing the Safeway grocery store. The project drew the ire of residents, and Property Development Centers did not file a formal application for the project.
“We’ve worked to ensure that the community’s vision for the center continue to be heard throughout this process,” Friend said. “The center is a vital part of Aptos and the success of the local businesses in the center is a key part of our area’s economy and character.”
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The Santa Cruz County Zoning Administrator will meet Friday at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, Room 525, 701 Ocean St. in Santa Cruz. To view the agenda, visit tinyurl.com/ybzs3cmy.
