Vons Vote Delayed Again

Concerns over a traffic study continued to hold up a vote Thursday on whether to amend a zoning ordinance to allow a to relocate within Palm Desert.

In a 5-0 vote, council members voted to delay the discussion for 30 days to allow time for a few changes to be made to the study.

City Manager John Wohlmuth said the modifications will "reflect certain conditions," and entire study will not have to be redone.

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.

He advised the council to “back-fill Palms to Pines so the problems at Waring Center don’t become the problem at the Palms to Pines Center.”

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.