Grocer's plans made whole

A Georgia-based developer will add another high-end grocer to the mix along University Parkway now that a lawsuit against Sarasota County has been resolved.

Developer SJ Collins Enterprises, who has developed more than a dozen Whole Foods locations across the Southeast, plans to build a 58,055-square-foot retail/commercial node at the southwest corner of University Parkway and Honore Avenue. The 8.24-acre project, called University Station, is slated to have a Whole Foods Market, Wawa gas station and Zoes Kitchen.

Construction of University Station requires the destruction of a 4.5-acre wetland area, prompting an outcry from a local environmental group, Manasota 88. It and three individuals — Andrew Mele, Larry Grossman and Geraldine Swormstedt — filed a lawsuit against Sarasota County in February, alleging its approval of the project a month earlier was inconsistent with the county’s policy for preserving wetlands. They also alleged the project “adversely affected” their ability to observe flora and fauna in a wetland there.

On Aug. 19, the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. A trial had been slated for Aug. 22.

“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.

Details of the dismissal were not released.

A Sarasota County staff report stated the native habitat on the property had been designated as a “preserve area” in previous rezone petitions for adjacent business parks.

SJ Collins had purchased 40 acres connected to Rye Preserve, in Manatee County, for conservation to serve as off-site mitigation, rather than conserving wetlands on the University Parkway property. Water from both properties drains into the same watershed area.

The lawsuit rendered SJ Collins unable to proceed with development.

Sarasota County spokesman Drew Winchester declined to comment on the case, saying the county does not comment on litigation. Inquiries to Andrew Mele and the plaintiffs’ attorney, Ralf Brookes, were not returned by press time.

McElyea said SJ Collins does not yet have a timeframe for moving forward with University Station, but is developing one.