Whole Foods' development case dismissed

The developer of a new Whole Foods grocery can move forward with  the project.

A judge today dismissed a lawsuit filed in February to prevent the development of a Whole Foods on an 8-acre parcel at the corner of University Parkway and Honore Ave., 

 Manasota 88, a nonprofit environmental group, and four individuals filed the lawsuit against Sarasota County in February, arguing the county was being inconsistent with its comprehensive plan after it approved the development of a project called University Station.

SJ Collins, the project developer, applied to the county last year to develop a Whole Foods, Wawa and Zoe’s Kitchen at that location. To do so, it would have to pave over a 4.4-acre wetland.

“We are pleased that the challenge against the county regarding development of University Station has been dismissed and we are excited to move forward,” said Candice McElyea, spokeswoman for SJ Collins.