Proposed Walmart on Beneva Road could face delay

In two weeks, the Sarasota County Commission will consider a request to rezone land at the corner of Beneva Road and Bee Ridge Road for a Walmart Neighborhood Market. But the representative of an adjacent property brought up the controversial land-use decision during an April 9 regular meeting.

At least 20 residents of nearby neighborhoods protested the rezone request at a March 6 County Commission meeting, but the board continued the decision to April 24 because Chairwoman Carolyn Mason was out sick.

Attorney Jeff Boone asked commissioners for some time to add a stipulation for a cross access to the property south of the proposed Walmart, which he said was part of negotiations with the Walmart petitioner. It is depicted in the plans, but the stipulation would guarantee it, Boone said.

Commissioners would have to decide at the April 24 public hearing whether to leave the public hearing open and continue it until the next regularly scheduled meeting — which isn’t until May.

“I’m an optimist so I’m going to remain optimistic that we are going to have it worked out,” Boone said. “But, quite frankly, past history is not encouraging on this”