The City of Lathrop’s goal of having the existing stormwater retention basin adjacent to the Save Mart Shopping Center on Harlan Road developed appears to be stalled. 

After the Lathrop City Council instructed staff to approach the developer of the property – Donahue Schriber Realty Group – with a proposal that would essentially grant them the property for future development or expansion as long as they replace the basin somewhere else, discussions determined that the company is not interested in developing that particular piece of property. 

They thanked the city for its consideration, but respectfully declined. 

That information is being presented as an informational item on agenda on the upcoming Lathrop City Council meeting – being held tonight at 7 p.m. at Lathrop City Hall, located at 390 Towne Centre Drive. 

While the outcome wasn’t what was desired for the council, it marked a willingness to engage with commercial developers to help bring more shopping and dining options to the growing city now that the rooftops that most commercial developers look for when scouting future destinations are on the horizon. 

And the move was just a continuation of business as usual for the council, which has long maintained the position of being business-friendly and trying to do everything within its power to bring more options to its residents. 

Lathrop Mayor Sonny Dhaliwal, in particular, has been a vocal advocate for getting the remainder of the development that initially included a Target – and was rumored to include a Home Depot at one point as well – back on-line after constant pressure from residents who want more local places to shop. 

Until Donahue Schriber developed the commercial lot on Harlan Road that brought Lathrop a Save Mart, the city didn’t have a dedicated stand-alone chain grocery store to serve the nearly 20,000 residents who lived in the city at that time. 

With the passing of Measure C, which generates one cent of every dollar spent in the city for services that include police and protection as well as city services that aren’t included in the budget for fiscal reasons, the council has been proactive at trying to keep residents in Lathrop to spend their money instead of going to nearby Manteca or neighboring cities like Stockton and Tracy. 

The council won’t take any action on the informational item on Monday, but could discuss other options for the property. 

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.