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Staff says big-box vacancies are filling; plan-check turnaround among fastest in county

Rancho Santa Margarita Planning Commission · February 4, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

City staff told the Planning Commission that while small-suite vacancies remain typical, several large retail vacancies in Rancho Santa Margarita have been or are being repurposed (including a proposed pickleball facility at the former Bed Bath & Beyond); staff noted fast plan-check timelines under contract with Charles Abbott and Associates.

A commissioner raised concerns about commercial vacancies in town during the Feb. 4 Planning Commission meeting; city staff responded that many vacancies — particularly large-format retail spaces — are actively being filled and that smaller-suite vacancies remain typical.

City staff (Mr. Cooter) told the commission that the former Bed Bath & Beyond is slated to become a…

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