Council gives positive marks to proposed Windsor shopping center

A large shopping center proposed on farmland at Windsor's southern end received a generally positive reception Wednesday from the Windsor Town Council in the first public unveiling of the project.

The 39-acre shopping center with a Target store as the potential anchor tenant was given a qualified "yes" by council members, even though they lamented the loss of the farm and the prospect of another big box store at the town's entrance.

With the Wal-Mart shopping center on one side of the freeway and the Target center on the western side, Councilman Sam Salmon said the town will look like "the gateway to big box retail."

But he noted there were unsuccessful attempts in the past to preserve the farm.

"It's all about the money," he said, adding, "I have a feeling the community will be favorable (to the project), and if I get that feeling, I tend to support the community."

The tentatively named "Shiloh Marketplace" is touted as an economic boost for Windsor that could generate more than $79 million in retail sales, equating to almost $800,000 annually in new sales tax for Windsor.

The shopping center is estimated to create 600 full-time jobs and 100 part- time jobs, according to the developer. It would bring about 600 new construction jobs lasting 18 months.

In addition, about $4 million in new project fees would be generated for Windsor when building permits are issued.

The regional shopping center would total about 277,000 square feet and be located to the northwest of Highway 101 and the Shiloh Road intersection. It would be built on the Olufs' family farm, which has been there almost 60 years.

The center would be made up of a large anchor store - potentially Target - and four smaller "junior" anchor stores, with the remainder in shops, specialty retailers and restaurant buildings.

Developer Jim Provost of Santa Rosa said Wednesday that Target "is one of the retailers we've been communicating with," but acknowledged "there's no commitment from Target at this time."

He declined to discuss the financing for the project. But he said he was pleased with the reception he got from Town Council members Wednesday, and said he felt confident developers would "be able to incorporate their suggestions wherever possible."

Council members had a long list of specifics they'd like to see in the shopping center, from subdued lighting to parking layout, building materials and location of buildings. They also wanted to see a two- story Target and not allow a super grocery store inside it that would compete with Safeway and Raley's downtown.

They also suggested the design make better use of the three creeks running through the property.

According to Provost, the center would complement and not compete with the Windsor Wal-Mart Center because a majority of the new retailers would offer goods and services currently unavailable in Windsor.

Only one member of the public spoke Wednesday at the workshop on the proposed shopping center.

Brent Gudzus of Windsor said the last thing the town needs is "another strip mall." And he decried the loss of farmland and open space on the city's periphery.

"It's a serious degradation of the aesthetic gateway of Windsor," he said. "We have plenty of Targets in Sonoma County."

Councilwoman Debora Fudge said she expected more people to speak, but added that it looks like there won't be a big community fight like there was over Wal-Mart when it was proposed in the late 1990s.

While she said she wished the land could remain a farm, she concluded, ""this seems like a good use for the property."

Although it's an active farm, with beef cattle and an annual pumpkin patch, the project site has been designated for years for urban level development and is zoned light industrial and recreation.

The shopping center would require a general plan amendment, zoning change, use permit, design review and possible subdivision.

Access to the shopping center would be through a new signalized, three-way intersection on Shiloh Road constructed about 400 feet east of the intersection of Conde Lane and Shiloh.

Town planners said the site has a number of biologically sensitive areas, including creeks and protected trees and an environmental impact report will be required. Developers are proposing pedestrian and bicycle paths, bridges over Faught Creek and a creekside recreational area.