Top Story — December: Whole Foods, Wawa locations face zoning hurdles

Update: The Sarasota County Planning Commission unanimously approved plans for the Whole Foods Market and Wawa on University parkway Dec. 17.

The Whole Foods Market and Wawa slated for the corner of University Parkway and Honore Avenue may get bogged down in permitting issues.

The Sarasota County Planning Commission this week will consider a request from Tampa-based Brightwork Real Estate to remove more than four acres of protected wetlands on the eight-acre parcel to make way for University Station. The developer plans to couple the 41,000-square-foot grocery store and 6,100-square-foot convenience store with about 11,800-square-feet of retail — including an unnamed restaurant.

But, county staff said in a report on the proposed rezone this month that the resulting impact to the wetlands would violate the county’s comprehensive plan, which guides land use and development in Sarasota County. Staff recommends the planning commission require preservation of those wetlands.

Sarasota County Commissioner Carolyn Mason received an email supporting the project on Dec. 13 generated by bringwholefoodstouniversityparkway.com. The site does not contain any information about who created it or when it was created.

According to the report, the majority of the impacts would be located in a 3.3-acre native habitat preserve area, created as part of the 2004 site plan for the University Parkway Business Park. Those site plans are considered binding and require Sarasota County commissioners’ approval to change.

The applicant has proposed purchasing 34.5 acres of river-adjacent land in Manatee County in return for the right to develop the project.

Jeff Garrison, representative for SJ Collins, which is responsible for bringing the development to the area, did not return a request for comment.

Brightwork principal Henry Hilsman, who is listed as the applicant on the rezone petition, declined to comment.

According to the staff report, the applicant stated “there is no reasonable alternative that would avoid or sustainably preserve any portion of the on-site wetlands while accommodating a much needed grocery anchor for (this site).”

The item is scheduled to go before county commissioners Jan. 26.