Commission to vote on Publix tonight

Publix could get the go-ahead to make shopping more of a pleasure on Longboat Key tonight.

The Longboat Key Town Commission will consider on second reading and public hearing three separate outline development plans (ODPs) related to the Lakeland-based Publix Supermarkets Inc.’s proposal for a new Avenue of the Flowers store. The commission will also consider a site-plan amendment for the project.

The commission unanimously approved the three ODPs last month on first reading after a meeting that stretched nearly five hours. If the commission approves the plan, Publix will likely close its existing store this April, tear it down by May and open a rebuilt store by December 2012.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. tonight at Longboat Key Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.

Also at tonight’s meeting, the commission will:

Hear a presentation from Roxie Jerde, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County;

Consider on second reading and public hearing:
• An ordinance that amends the Zoning Code to provide for alternative methods to meet code requirements for landscape buffers in transition yards;

• An ordinance amending requirements to include a six-month window for property owners whose required landscaping was involuntarily damaged or destroyed to bring their landscaping into compliance with town code;

• An ordinance amending Town Code to allow future workshop meetings to begin at 2 p.m. instead of the previous 1 p.m. start time.

Check back at YourObserver.com for updates.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].