BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Riverview Marketplace — a long-anticipated shopping center development in northwest Bakersfield — is steadily making progress in getting the city’s approval.
On Thursday, the Bakersfield Planning Commission approved the final environmental impact report and general plan amendment for the Riverview Marketplace project.
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The proposed shopping center is set to be on 46 acres in the southwest corner of Rosedale Highway and Coffee Road.
Brett Thornton, the senior vice president of Construction and Development for DJM Capital Partners, said the development is estimated to bring about 2,000 jobs. About 1,000 of them will be during construction and the other 1,000 are expected to be permanent positions held with the businesses, Thornton said.
According to Thornton, while the developers made no agreements to hire locally, they are open to having local workers at the Riverview Marketplace.
A community member opposed the development, bringing up environmental and public health concerns such as the alleged impact of charbroilers, car wash and more on seniors living nearby and the site’s reported value as a wildlife habitat.
However, the four commissioners who were present all voted in support of the project. They encouraged developers to work with local subcontractors and residents for the potential job opportunities.
Commissioner Allison Brandt Oliver said as someone who lives near the site, she is very excited for the proposed development.
“I’m just really excited to see that corner grow and I just appreciate this developer coming to Bakersfield from down south — and their projects down south are very, very beautiful — and I think this will be a wonderful addition to Bakersfield,” Oliver said.
With this approval, the Commission is essentially recommending the Bakersfield City Council to do the same.
If the City Council approves the EIR and general plan amendment, developers will still need to submit a final site plan review application to the city’s Planning Department.
If that gets approved, developers can get a building permit, according to city officials.
Cheesecake Factory not ready to confirm long-rumored arrival just yet; Whole Foods still coming
The Riverview Marketplace was also the site of the rumored Cheesecake Factory after some renderings of the development showed the restaurant chain’s name and logo. But both the developers and Cheesecake Factory denied the rumors in July.
As of Oct. 1, Whole Foods and McDonald’s are the only tenants confirmed for the center.
Whole Foods is expected to be the anchor store with the shopping center including over 375,000 square feet of retail space and 1,750 parking spaces, according to developers.
The City Council is expected to consider the EIR in November, according to officials.
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