The growing City of Soledad (population of 26,092 with a median income of $64,472) is conveniently located along HWY 101, approximately 86 miles south of San Jose, in the center of the Salinas Valley. The city actively seeks to create a welcoming and prosperous place to conduct business and call home. Soledad’s leaders, staff, and community support the growth and prosperity, of the city. Soledad continues to encourage and promote a positive, balanced, vital economy and preserve those unique qualities that are good for business and make Soledad a very special place to live, work, and play.

The Soledad Marketplace up to 140,750 square feet of floor area, including a ten-screen cinema, restaurants, shops, general retail uses, parking, landscaping, signing and lighting on an approximately 13.6 acre site on Nestels Road and Los Coches Drive. The proposed project is consistent with the 2005 General Plan “General Commercial” land use designation. This designation allows a range of retail uses and other uses for the community as a whole. The project is also consistent with General Plan provisions encouraging expansion of the city’s visitor-serving uses and adding new attractions to the city, particularly, a movie theater.

The Soledad Marketplace is zoned in the H-C Highway Commercial District, which provides for a wide range of conditionally allowed uses, including “visitor accommodation facilities,” restaurants and offices. Retail shops and movie theaters are not specifically identified as a conditionally permitted use but may be allowed as “similar” uses “ upon their approved Conditional Use Permit. In combination, the proposed uses will provide a mixed use commercial center intended to serve the work, entertainment, accommodation and shopping needs of visitors and residents of Soledad and the broader community.