EASTVALE >> Eastvale city council members recently voted to approve a new shopping center to be anchored by a Wal-Mart supercenter, called Eastvale Crossings.

The project, planned for the southeast corner of Limonite and Archibald avenues, was approved unanimously April 26. The Wal-Mart will be 192,000 square feet and also feature a gas station on 25-plus acres, according to city documents. Further development on additional parcels is subject to later Planning Commission review, Eastvale City Manager Michele Nissen, said by phone.

The project will also feature a drive-through pharmacy, according to city planning documents.

Officials said a time frame for construction has yet to be determined.

“The approval is the first step,” Wal-Mart spokeswoman Delia Garcia aid by phone. “We’re very early in the process here.”

The project is expected to serve not only Eastvale but the surrounding communities of Ontario, Chino, Norco and Jurupa Valley, officials said.

“We know that many of our customers are already shopping at other Wal-Marts in Chino and Corona, and this will be a convenience to our Eastvale customers, but we’ll also serve a broader area,” Garcia said.

The new Wal-Mart supercenter is also expected to generate about $375,000 a year in sales tax revenue for the city, Nissen said. Average sales tax revenue for a Wal-Mart supercenter can range from $250,000 to $900,000 annually, Nissen said, so the estimate is conservative.

“Those dollars go straight into the city’s general fund,” Nissen said. “Ultimately, it’s up to the City Council and myself to decide how those dollars are spent, but it’s based on the needs of the community.”

The new center is expected help to ease a particular challenge for the city, Councilman Brandon Plott said by phone.

“For the last six years, we’ve been able to maintain a solvent budget, but it’s been very challenging,” Plott said. “The topic of gaining more sales tax revenue comes up and Wal-Mart brings that to the city.”

The project is expected to create 100 construction jobs and 300 new retail jobs for the city, Nissen said.

The new Wal-Mart, which will have a full grocery department, should make a meaningful impact on the marketplace, Plott said.

“It does bring a level of service to the city that the residents want,” Plott said. “People can shop for something at a lower price and it brings a level of competition to the city, which is good for our local economy. I think people want to pay lower prices for products.”