Vote On Vons Relocation Expected To Be Delayed Again

A vote set for later this month on whether to amend a zoning ordinance to allow a to relocate within Palm Desert is expected to be delayed because of concerns over a traffic study.

City Planner Tony Bagato said at Tuesday's Planning Commission meeting that the developer plans to redo the study instead of making a few changes.

City officials initially believed the entire study would not need to be redone. The vote will likely be held July 14.

The issue was brought to the city’s attention on May 13 by the owners of the Palms to Pines Shopping Center, which houses Vons current location.

Robert Bernheimer, who was representing the owners, said the study did not take into account a new Red Lobster -- which is set to open next year -- and the tenant that will replace the Toys "R" Us.

He said the Vons relocation hurts the small business owners at the current location.

Vons bought a vacant Mervyns store at Waring Plaza, with is on the northeast corner of Fred Waring Drive and Highway 111, with plans to put a 57,000-square-foot grocery store at the location.

But to relocate, the Palm Desert city Council has to approve amending an ordinance to allow supermarkets up to 60,000 square feet in the city. The old ordinance had a cap of 50,000 square feet.

The store's current location at the Palms to Pines Shopping Center is too small, and will be moved to a larger one, according to Brian Braaten, vice president of Real Estate for Safeway Inc.'s Vons Division.

Vons has opposed any delays and has upheld the validity of the traffic study.