Planning Board OKs Ringling Walmart

The Sarasota Planning Board Wednesday approved a Walmart Supercenter on Ringling Boulevard.
The site plan for the 97,000-square-foot project was approved 3-2.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to demolish the existing plaza and build the store in its place. The Ringling Shopping Center lost its anchor tenant in October 2011 when Publix Super Markets Inc. closed as the plaza’s anchor tenant to make way for its new Publix at 2031 Bay Street.

The Walmart store will include general merchandise, a pharmacy, deli, produce and groceries.

While there has been mixed opinions on the supercenter, during the last few weeks, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. gained support from some neighborhood leaders in surrounding neighborhoods after the corporation agreed to move the 97,000-square-foot store 50 feet closer to Ringling Avenue, thus moving the building away from the south property line, where several homes would abut the new store. Additional trees and greenspace were also added to the plans for the project’s southern edge.