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Tarpon Wal-Mart Denied Planning Board Ok

Mark Schantz/SUNCOAST

The Tarpon Springs Planning and Zoning Board says the plan for the proposed Wal-Mart should be reviewed again. Wal-Mart wants to build on the site on U.S. 19, overlooking the Anclote River.

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: October 17, 2008

Updated:

TARPON SPRINGS - If Thursday night's Planning and Zoning Board meeting is any barometer of things to come for Wal-Mart, the retail chain might face friends and foes alike next week when it goes before the City Commission.

During a hearing scheduled for this Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 21 and 22, city commissioners will decide whether the Wal-Mart's site plan and traffic concurrency permits are still valid.

Thursday night, before the Planning and Zoning Board hearing began, about three dozen Wal-Mart supporters arrived at City Hall. All were sporting yellow "Wal-Mart Yes!!!" stickers.

In the end, however, the planning board said no. It voted to recommend the City Commission declare the site plan for the Wal-Mart, which commissioners approved in 2005, no longer valid. If city commissioners agree, the plan would have to go through the review process again.

In an interview, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman said the retailer sent letters to registered voters in the city asking supporters of its planned Supercenter store on U.S. 19, overlooking the Anclote River, to rally at City Hall. The Wal-Mart backers had a pre-meeting dinner at a local restaurant.

One resident, Paul Mullens, said he supports Wal-Mart because he likes to shop there for bargains and does not want to have to travel 15 miles a to get to another Supercenter.

During the hearing environmentalists from Concerned Citizens of Tarpon Springs and Friends of the Anclote River reiterated their concerns about Wal-Mart constructing its proposed 205,000-square-foot discount store-supermarket combo on the banks of the river. A big-box store would not be good for the river, surrounding wetlands and a recently discovered bald eagle nest on the property, they said.

"Friends of the Anclote River are not going away," a member of the group, Wendy Crosato, said. "We live here, plan to stay here and fight here."

Wal-Mart officials said the chain has done everything the city has asked. Its most recent site plan revision was initiated to preserve more wetlands, said David Theriaque, an attorney for Wal-Mart.

City staff and City Attorney James Yacavone have issued opinions saying the site plan remains valid even though Wal-Mart is seeking changes to the plan, he noted.

Concerns Citizens of Tarpon Springs contend the site plan is no longer valid.

Berlis Ennis, spokesman for Concerned Citizens, said Wal-Mart should have to apply for a new site plan that is in line with recent changes made to the city land development code regarding development near wetlands.

Yacavone repeated Thursday night it is his opinion the site plan remains valid and the project is consistent with the land code.

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