Murrieta's Massive 64-Acre 'Triangle' Proposal Gets Revival

MURRIETA, CA — Those seasonal Christmas tree lots and pumpkin patches along the south side of Murrieta Hot Springs Road, between the 15 and 215 freeways, will be a thing of the past when the proposed 64-acre Shops at The Triangle project gets built.

The question is, will current Murrieta residents still be alive to see the long-talked-about behemoth development come to fruition?

If Wednesday's Murrieta Planning Commission workshop is any indication, the answer is yes.

During the workshop, the commissioners saw and heard updates about the project, including a proposed specific plan amendment, development plan, tentative map, and environmental consistency analysis that signal the developer is very motivated to get started.

The proposal targets land long-eyed as the city's "golden triangle" — an ideally located large vacant spot with the potential to generate millions of dollars in tax revenue once developed. The property is owned by one of the oldest pioneering families in the region — the Domenigoni's. They are behind the proposal that includes over a million square feet of retail, restaurant, entertainment and commercial space, along with other possible uses like medical and warehousing.

The project would be built in phases, with the first opening in early 2027 along the northern part of the property. Access would be off Murrieta Hot Springs Road.

Murrieta Economic Development Director Scott Agajanian said Wednesday that the project is key to the city's growth and ability to attract national names. Big chains shied away from Murrieta and instead landed in Temecula after the Promenade mall was built, according to Agajanian

The Triangle project would be a game-changing "destination retail environment" that alters prospective investors' perceptions of Murrieta as a sleepy city, he continued.

"I cannot impress enough how important this project is from an economic development standpoint," Agajanian said.

An Environmental Impact Report for the Triangle project was first approved in 1990 and updated in 2013. Development at the site has long been delayed, with various iterations and arguments over what might get built.

Concerns over traffic and air quality related to the project have remained consistent throughout, however. In 2013, Murrieta City Council chose to override those environmental worries because the majority felt the economic benefits to the city outweighed the harm.

Commissioner Craig Harlan asked Agajaian for three adjectives on what success would look like for Shops at The Triangle.

Agajanian was quick to answer: "Revenue, tourism, excitement."

No action was taken during Wednesday's Planning Commission workshop, though the project is expected to come before the city again in the coming months. Community workshops are planned.

Commissioner Joe Wojcik was not present during Wednesday's workshop. It was announced his absence was excused.