P&Z to check out Publix plans

Is a new Publix in the bag for Longboat Key?

By next week, residents could be one step closer to a new store.

The Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets Inc. will shop its plans to the Longboat Key Planning & Zoning Board at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13.

The P&Z board will discuss a site plan for the property, along with the three outline development plans for the site owned by Publix and two adjacent parcels currently owned by Bay Isles Enclave Acquisition LLC and W. Howard Rooks, which Publix is under contract to purchase.

Town Planner Steve Schield said Monday afternoon that town staff will likely issue its recommendations later this week.

“Generally, we’re very much in support of it, but obviously we’ll have some recommendations,” he said.

Publix proposes tearing down its existing store after Easter next year and rebuilding a new store that would open in December 2012. The plan calls for a larger, 49,533-square-foot Publix grocery store that would be connected to a 11,700-square-foot retail plaza, a stand-alone, 14,528-square-foot CVS Pharmacy, and a stand-alone 4,000-square-foot office/retail building.

Engineer Matt Campo expressed confidence that the plan could move forward with the town at a Nov. 19 Federation of Longboat Key Condominium Association meeting.

“They understand what our timeline is,” he said. “Town planning has deemed the application complete, so in their minds, they’re satisfied with what we’ve put through right now.”

The P&Z Board will make a recommendation about the site plan and ODPs, but the Longboat Key Town Commission will have final approval. Two public hearings are needed for ODP approval, while a single public hearing is needed for site-plan approval. The commission will likely discuss the plan at its January and February meetings.

Sneak peek
Publix will hold a community workshop to display its plans and renderings for the proposed project. The workshop will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. For more information, contact the Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce at 383-2466 or [email protected].