5-Story Hotel, Medical Building Proposed In Wildomar

WILDOMAR, CA — A proposal to build a three-story tall medical building and a five-story high hotel in Wildomar is up for environmental review, and public comments are sought.

On June 23, the public comment period opened up on the draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report for the revised "Baxter Village Mixed-Use Project."

Located along the west side of Interstate 15 near Baxter Road (renamed Wildomar Trail), the project calls for construction of an 84,000-square-foot outpatient medical office on 7.2 acres. With its three stories, the facility would be 50 feet tall. At the same location, the project includes construction of a 102-room hotel on 2.4 acres that would also stand 50 feet tall.

Four years ago, the city signed off on a different version of the project. Back in July 2016, the Baxter Village Mixed-Use Project EIR was certified, but it called for 75,000 square feet of retail space on approximately 12 acres at the site. The retail concept has since been scraped and the developer is proposing the hotel and medical building in its place.

As part of the 2016 certification, there was a proposal to build 204 apartments on 11 acres and 66 single-family homes on 13 acres at the site. According to the city, plans for that residential development are unchanged and can still move forward.

The Baxter Village Mixed-Use Project site is 36 acres in total. It is bordered by Grove Road to the north, I-15 to the east, Baxter Road to the south, and White Street to the west (see map above).

The modified project area affects approximately 10 acres that front Baxter Road and extend from I-15 to approximately the point where Central Avenue intersects with Baxter Road, according to the city.

Although the original project was approved nearly four years ago, no development has occurred at the vacant site.

Anyone wishing to provide comments tied to the draft supplemental EIR can find project documents here. According to the documents, the project would have "significant and unavoidable impacts" on air quality, greenhouse gas emissions and transportation.

Public comments can be provided through 5 p.m. Aug. 6, 2020. Written comments can be mailed to Matthew C. Bassi, Planning Director, City of Wildomar Planning Department, 23873 Clinton Keith Road, Suite 201, Wildomar, CA 92595. Email comments can be sent to mbassi@cityofwildomar.org.