The developer of a five-story education complex in Murrieta is negotiating to buy the land necessary to complete the three roads leading to the campus.

This process is critical to keeping the $50 million Murrieta Education Center on its timeline of opening in 2011, representatives said.

The roads must be built before the developer can build the buildings, said Denise Petersen, who is managing the land acquisition process for the developer. She said she has made contact with all but one landowner and expects to secure the land by summer's end.

"So far, we haven't had any opposition," Petersen said. "There is a lot of interest (from property owners) as to what the impacts are going to be."

The proposed education complex will house multiple satellite campuses as well as work force development programs in its twin five-story towers. A second building will house a bookstore, a café and other shops.

Representatives of the Capistrano Beach-based AGK Group are expecting to start grading the property in the fall.

There are 19 surrounding property owners who will have to give up right-of-way to construct Monroe Avenue, Guava Street and the recently renamed Newton-Azrak Street, all of which are dirt paths.

Monroe will become a four-lane thoroughfare between Guava and Fig Street. Guava, which is paved until just north of Madison, will be extended from its terminus to Monroe. Newton-Azrak, which is a driveway for a church and the U.S. Border Patrol station, will become a two-lane road to Monroe.

The majority of the properties that would be affected are vacant lots, but some are already planned for developments, such as a church, according to city plans.

AGK representatives met with several of the landowners June 17 during an open house.

One of the affected properties is owned by the Crossroads Church in Temecula. The church is building its permanent home on the corner of Guava and Monroe, and the general contractor said the two developments should be mutually beneficial.

"The way it benefits us is that they will probably do the roads before us," said Arnie Venti, the church's contractor. "And on the other hand, there are telephone poles that need to be removed and if we can work together, we will take care of those poles so they won't have to spend time and money just to move them a few feet."

Reach Aaron Burgin at 951-375-3733 or aburgin@PE.com