Publix plans get green light

Publix agent Michael Leeds told the Longboat Key Town Commission Monday about a site plan the Lakeland-based supermarket chain brought to town staff more than two years ago.

“Frankly, it was the easy way out,” Leeds said at the commission’s Jan. 9 regular meeting. “It was just, ‘Replace the old Publix store and leave everything the way it was.’”

Publix spent approximately two years revising the plan before officially submitting plans in July for a new Avenue of the Flowers store that would create a new shopping experience on Longboat Key.

Leeds said that throughout the process, Publix representatives heard many suggestions and concerns by those affected by the project. Since July, Publix has made multiple changes to its plan, including reducing the amount of parking spaces it typically requires from five per 1,000 square feet of store to closer to four per 1,000 square feet and making various adjustments to its landscaping plan.

“This is the best we think we can do to satisfy everyone we need to satisfy,” he said.

The supermarket chain is now three steps closer to making shopping more of a pleasure at Avenue of the Flowers: The commission approved three separate outline development plans (ODPs) for the project on first reading and public hearing after four-a-half hours of discussion at its Monday, Jan. 9 regular meeting.

Before the discussion began, Town Attorney David Persson discussed how Judge Charles Roberts’ recent ruling that granted a writ of certiorari could affect the project. The writ was granted to the Islandside Property Owners Coalition and the L’Ambiance and Sanctuary condominium associations over the commission’s approval of the Longboat Key Club and Resort’s project. Although the ruling raised issues related to the town’s land-use regulations, Persson told the commission that Roberts’ ruling was not yet a final order and that Publix could proceed with its hearing.

Commissioners had many questions for Publix representatives: They wondered about the safety of large trucks entering and exiting the property and the wear-and-tear on Bay Isles Parkway, a road privately owned by the Bay Isles Master Association. They also had suggestions, such as possibly enhancing an east-side corridor to allow service vehicles access away from the flow of traffic, creating parallel parking spaces and changing the two-way traffic flow in some parts of the plan to one way.

Commissioners heard from Bay Isles residents who were concerned about the impact of the project on Bay Isles Parkway. Residents and the association’s attorney, Stephen Rees Jr., asked for the extension of a proposed vegetation buffer to minimize the visual impact from Bay Isles Parkway.

Eventually Commissioner Jack Duncan asked Rees whether residents are concerned about seeing the parking or the buildings on the site.

“Both,” Rees responded, comparing the issue to the town’s policy of providing a buffer along Gulf of Mexico Drive.

“I’m a little concerned that we’re asking for a fort,” Mayor Jim Brown said.

The commission agreed to a Publix request that it not be required to install much of its landscaping prior to the start of construction. The plans approved on first reading by the commission allowed two restaurants on the Avenue of the Flowers site without seeking special exception.

The commission will discuss the ODPs on second reading and the site plan amendment for the project at its Feb. 6 regular meeting. Publix plans to tear down its existing store in April and re-open by next Christmas, with CVS remaining open during the construction of its new store.

Comparison to existing site
(Existing; Proposed) 
Publix store 38,565; 49,533
CVS store 11,490; 12,900

Overall building
square footage 105,770; 91,857
Total parking 311; 384