By this time next year, Mapleton residents may be able to do more of their shopping closer to home.

Developer Mark Behnen is planning to build a 30,000-square-foot retail center and a 25,000-square-foot, two-story office building on Community Center Way, directly across the street from City Hall, which is at 125 West. The center would be the largest commercial development in Mapleton.

Pascal Meyer, an agent for Mapleton Village Plaza, said the developer is seeking various businesses for the retail center, such as specialty food stores and beauty salons. City manager Bob Bradshaw said Hogi Yogi may be another potential tenant.

"Just smaller retail that would be of interest to the smaller, local community," Meyer said.

Meyer will speak at tonight's Planning Commission meeting, where the commission is scheduled to vote on approval for the project plan and a requested zone change from residential to commercial. If the commission approves the requests, the City Council will likely vote on the plan at its May 15 meeting.

The approval process does not appear to be a major obstacle for the development. Bradshaw said he believes the Planning Commission will recommend approval, and said the City Council is behind the project as well. Meyer said the developer purchased the field from the city where the retail center will be built with the understanding that it would be used for commercial development.

"The council is very enthusiastic and looks forward to the development proceeding and generating the much-needed retail tax revenue that the city is so much in need of," Bradshaw said.

Behnen's plans fit into the city's larger plans for the area. Bradshaw said the city hopes to turn the area into a focal point for retail activity in Mapleton. Adjacent land is already zoned for commercial use. The city is also overhauling its master plan to promote commercial growth.

"We are in desperate need of a vaster economic structure for the city and continued financial viability," he said. "That's why we're so excited and enthusiastic about the plaza development."

The proposed commercial development comes as Mapleton is bracing for a boom in residential construction. Developers are planning new subdivisions that could bring as many as 1,500 new homes to Mapleton over the next five years. City officials are expecting Mapleton's population of 7,000 people to double in that time frame, which would require more businesses to serve the new residents.

"There's a huge shortfall of retail, commercial, manufacturing activity in Mapleton city," Bradshaw said.

A storage unit business is being built near the north entrance to town. The city held unsuccessful discussions with Smith's Food & Drug to build a supermarket in Mapleton, Bradshaw said, though the city is still hoping to bring a grocery store or other major retailer to town.

If the plans are approved, Meyer said construction of the retail center could begin in two to three months, with the office building following a few months later. Construction is expected to last six to seven months.

"It is an idea that falls in line with the vision of the town leaders and planners to have a bit of a central commercial district there around City Hall and around that block," Meyer said. "It should be a good addition to that town."

Jeremy Duda can be reached at 344-2561 or jduda@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C1.