Lowe’s submits plans to build Poway store

The Lowe’s home improvement chain has formally submitted plans to build a new store on Poway Road.

The company proposes to build a 121,000-square-foot store, a 31,658-square-foot garden center and a 4,500-square-foot fast-food restaurant pad on 11 acres on the north side of Poway Road where Toyota of Poway and a auto repair shop and former Chevrolet dealership now stand.

A preliminary plot plan was submitted by Lowe’s in May. The company last week turned in six sets of plans, a 366-page draft traffic impact study and other related documents. The applicant’s representative also paid $6,566 in city fees.

Assuming city approval, Lowe’s projects a January 2012 store opening.

Bob Manis, the city’s development services director, said Thursday his staff will spend the next month or so reviewing the documents to make sure the application is complete. He said that once all items have been submitted, the staff will determine whether the proposed use will require the preparation of an environmental impact report. If required, the preparation of the report could take up to a year, Manis said.

The proposed use is allowed under the property’s current zoning, which is Automotive-General Commercial. Lowe’s is requesting a minor conditional use permit and a variance for its building signage and needs the approval of a tentative parcel map in order to proceed. Manis said those items will ultimately be reviewed by the City Council.

The city’s redevelopment agency is in lease negotiations with the owner of the Toyota dealer to move his business across the street. The City Council, sitting as the agency board, on July 9 approved spending $2.8 million, plus another $200,000 in related costs, to purchase 2.7 acres at 13655 Poway Road which was once used by a Chrysler dealer. If a lease can be negotiated, plans call for the Toyota dealership to occupy that parcel, and the adjoining parcel that has been used by a now-vacant Jeep dealership.

A Lowe’s real estate representative was unavailable Friday to comment on the future of the auto repair shop.

The draft traffic impact report, which Manis stressed has not been reviewed by the city, concludes that the completed Lowe’s store will generated an additional 4,293 average daily trips a day on that part of Poway Road. Peak traffic estimates include 312 morning trips and 334 afternoon trips. Existing weekday traffic volumes are pegged in the report at 23,984 average daily trips west of Gate Drive and 19,905 east of Gate Drive. Saturday traffic is listed at 23,984 and 19,905 average daily trips, respectively.

The report proposes that the Poway Road-Gate Drive intersection be signalized and that the eastbound Poway Road turn lane there be extended. The report also recommends the closure of a median break east of Gate Drive.