Corona council backs staff to prepare, entitle mixed‑use plan for North Mall

Corona City Council directed staff to begin preparing a mixed‑use redevelopment concept and to pursue entitlements for the North Mall site, Economic Development Director Joel Belding told the council on Feb. 19.

Belding said the city now owns a “critical mass” of the site — 20 of the 24 retail suites in the area — and recommended a two‑step approach: first prepare a mixed‑use project concept and then move forward with formal entitlements that would guarantee rights to build a specific project or series of projects.

"We can effectively start now through that formulation process of developing technical studies, developing that entire package, and then would go for public review," Belding said, outlining design guidelines, parking strategies and phasing that staff would study. He said the site is about eight acres and that entitlement work would include site planning, architecture, open space, parking and a viability check with consultants and potential developer input.

The council discussed the difference between zoning and entitlement. Belding said entitlement creates a "guaranteed right to build a certain project," which shortens risk and time for potential development partners and lets the city specify elements such as ground‑floor retail square footage, parking, and unit counts.

Council members said they support the city leading the process to retain control over design and outcomes. Councilmember Paul (last name not specified in the record) said he opposed simply repeating the Metro Maine model and asked that the downtown plan include a “driver” — a destination or anchor — to make downtown a focal point. Councilmember Casillas asked staff to preserve the city’s ability to bake in affordability and ownership goals during later contractual phases.

Public speakers raised concerns about scale and realism. One speaker who asked to remain anonymous during public comment said a $20 million city commitment should not be presented as a complete solution and urged honesty about financing and market risk. Another speaker argued the likely outcome was another large rental project similar to existing nearby developments and urged the city to avoid that outcome.

Belding said demolition of two southeast corner buildings will move forward soon, with conceptual design work largely complete by fall and entitlement work anticipated in the spring of the following year, after consulting work and continued negotiations with the remaining four private property owners.

Council consensus: Mayor Steiner asked whether the council had a majority to move forward; several members voiced support, and staff interpreted those comments as direction to proceed. The council did not take a roll‑call vote on a specific motion during the presentation; the direction was recorded as council instruction to staff to begin the two‑phase process (conceptual project preparation and pursuit of entitlements). Ending: Belding said staff will return with updates to the council and that the city plans to identify a development partner after entitlement work is complete.