Rocklin Crossings, a proposed shopping center on the southeast corner of Interstate 80 and Sierra College Boulevard, has cleared the Rocklin Planning Commission and will be considered by the City Council on May 27.

The development would be located on 55.1 acres, the majority of which is designated retail commercial with a small portion (1.23 acres) zoned medium-density residential.

Preliminary plans call for 21 buildings totaling more than 500,000 square feet with 2,463 parking spaces.

Anchored by a 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenter and a Home Depot, the shopping center would also contain several smaller businesses and “traveler-serving uses,” according to a public hearing notice issued by the city of Rocklin.

Although the project is entirely within the city limits of Rocklin, residents from the town of Loomis voiced their concerns to the Rocklin Planning Commission regarding the impact the center will have on the bordering neighborhoods in Loomis.

Traffic, noise pollution and 24-hour lights from the shopping center are among their concerns.

Loomis Town Councilman Tom Millward concedes that Loomis is at a disadvantage.

“I know we can’t stop it, but it’s going to have a negative impact on Loomis,” Millward said. “It’s going to impact our businesses, our streets and our residents.”

Millward said that he wants to get Rocklin to understand the issues Loomis faces and to help mitigate them.

“I believe they’re going to do what they’re going to do, but we’re trying to get them to do some things to help us. But other than some little things, there isn’t much we can do,” he said.

Loomis Town Manager Perry Beck doesn’t expect the Rocklin City Council to deviate from the recommendation of its planning commission.

“I think our primary issues are Sierra College Boulevard, we’re not happy with what Rocklin has proposed,” Beck said.

Beck said that the Rocklin City Council has a right to develop the city as they see fit. His concern is how it affects the residents of Loomis.

“Right now we are not happy with some of the things Rocklin has done. The next step would be legal action if that’s what the (Loomis Town) Council wants to do,” Beck said.

One concerned Rocklin resident, Anna Claiborn, has set up a Web site to inform the public about the project and what residents of either Loomis or Rocklin can do.

“I don’t think having 500,000 square feet of office space and a 24-hour Wal-Mart with homes crammed in is a good idea,” Claiborn said.

Claiborn is also concerned about the impact to Loomis’ rural neighborhoods bordering the project.

“In Loomis, it’s all very rural neighborhoods. The development backs right up against them. They were living in the country,” she said.

Rocklin City Council woman Kathy Lund said she has not yet taken a position on the matter.

“I want to keep an open mind until the hearing,” she said.

A spokesman for Wal-Mart, Kevin Loscotoff, says there are residents of both Rocklin and Loomis who are supportive of a nearby Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Loscotoff cited studies that show Wal-Mart has helped the communities it enters.

“Wal-Mart has a positive effect on local business and provides jobs and tax revenue,” he said.