An undeveloped parcel of land in Vail could boast a Safeway supermarket, a bank and other stores within the next couple of years.
The shopping center is being proposed for the future intersection of Colossal Cave Road and Mary Ann Cleveland Way.
No development plan has been submitted yet to Pima County, but the developer already has a clear vision of how the shopping center would look, said Donald L. Meyers, president of The Aspen Group, developer for the project.
The proposed shopping center would feature a bank and possibly a fast-food restaurant, Meyers said.
"We have been talking to a number of national tenants," Meyers said.
The developer plans on submitting a development plan within the next month and a half. The supermarket would be about 56,000 square feet, and the rest of the shopping center would feature about 40,000 square feet of shop space.
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The center would have an additional 20,000 square feet of pad space available for businesses, Meyers said.
The center would have between 15 and 20 tenants. The developer can't name any potential tenants because they are still in negotiations, he said.
Once the development plan is submitted, the company expects the plan to be approved in July, said project manager Tony Beuche.
The developer is looking to start construction in the early part of 2008, Beuche said.
He said the timeline for the project will be affected by road construction on East Mary Ann Cleveland Way.
The road will be extended east from Cienega Lake Drive to connect with East Colossal Cave Road, said Ben Goff, deputy director of the Pima County Department of Transportation.
The road should be completed by late August, he said.
The property is currently zoned for mixed-use development as part of the Rancho del Lago specific plan, said Janet Emel, senior planner for Pima County.
"It allows for a pretty wide range of uses," Emel said, including single- and multifamily homes, restaurants and commercial facilities, Emel said.
The county will review the development plan for conformance to existing land-use requirements.
Some residents have mixed feelings about the proposed shopping center.
"People moved to get away from the development. Now it's coming out here," said Vail resident Alan Woloscuk.
Woloscuk, 20, said he's not totally disappointed about the possibility of having another supermarket in the area.
"The Safeway moving in will make it a lot easier," Woloscuk said. "It's kind of sad to see it all come out here, but it will be a benefit as well."
Vail resident J.J. Lamb said the community has to look toward the future without forgetting its past.
"I hope we retain some flavor of our real ranching and railroad roots," Lamb said.
Lamb, who is a member of the Vail Preservation Society, said she doesn't want the shopping center to disrupt the character of the community.
Meyers said the shopping center will feature classic Southwestern architecture with a Mediterranean feel.
