Plans to convert the former Macy’s at the Harford Mall into an open-air shopping center will be formally introduced to the Bel Air Planning Commission Thursday.

According to plans presented to town and county officials last month, Georgia-based developer SJC Ventures is looking to transform the Macy’s portion of the mall into a $100 million shopping center that is anchored by a 35,000-square-foot “high-end, organic” grocery store. The grocer has not been publicly named by the developer.

Joining the grocery store will be 48,000 square feet of luxury boutiques, restaurants, shops and amenities. The project is envisioned as a mixed-use development — combining residential, retail and community areas — on a site that is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of dollars in new tax revenue to Bel Air, annually.

Developers are calling the open-air shopping center phase 3 of the four-phase redevelopment of the Harford Mall.

During phase 1, the former Sears was redeveloped to accommodate an Amazon Fresh grocery store.

Bel Air Town Administrator Edward Hopkins said he anticipates Amazon Fresh to move into the former Sears sometime next year.

The second phase includes plans to convert part of the mall’s parking lot that backs up to Boulton Street into a 33,200-square-foot, four-story parking garage, two four-story apartment buildings, two residential courtyards and 12,000 square feet of “amenities.”

The reduction in the number of parking spaces means that 34,307 square feet of the mall will be left vacant due to a lack of parking. Throughout the mall’s redevelopment, numerous stores, including Gamestop, Macy’s, For Your Entertainment and the Greene Turtle Restaurant, have closed.

Once plans for phase 3 are introduced, planning and zoning staff will provide feedback and comments on the proposals. Depending on the feedback, developers may be asked to tweak plans for the open-air shopping center before receiving final approval.

Renderings submitted with the phase 3 plans show murals, greenery, numerous store fronts, walkways and outdoor dining areas with popular storefronts like Mod Pizza and Mezeh Mediterranean Grill.

SJC’s vision for the pedestrian streetscape and open-air shopping center i is similar to the revised streetscape submitted by the housing project’s engineers, Frederick Ward and Associates, who used downtown Bel Air for inspiration.

The Planning and Zoning meeting will be open to the public and will start at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Bel Air Town Hall, 39 N. Hickory Ave.

Have a news tip? Contact Matt Hubbard at mhubbard@baltsun.com, 443-651-0101 or @mthubb on X.