Mall remake before council

By Amir Ghani/Orange County Tribune

Another, perhaps final step toward the beginning of redeveloping the declining Westminster Mall may be taken at Wednesday’s meeting of the Westminster City Council.

A public hearing will be held to consider a general plan amendment, a specific plan and an environmental impact report for a re-make of the enclosed shopping center at Bolsa Avenue and Goldenwest Street, adjacent to the San Diego (405) Freeway.

Generally, the proposals are to convert the center from a Seventies-style enclosed mall into a more open-air mixed-use project incorporating commercial and residential uses along with retail operations.

The planning commission at its most recent meeting recommended approval with some suggested changes, including the number of residential units and in the square footage of non-residential uses.

Westminster Mall opened in 1974 and was for years the largest enclosed shopping mall in Orange County. But competition and changes in shopping patterns led to growing numbers of vacancies in the center, and declining sales tax revenue to the city.

The council will meet at 7 p.m. in its chambers at 8200 Westminster Blvd.