Venice, FL. Wal-Mart Plan Denied

Wal-Mart site plan denied [Venice Gondolier (Fla.)]

The Renaissance project on 75 acres off Laurel Road received good news and bad news Tuesday.

The Venice Planning Commission OK’d phase 1A of the four-phase project. Phase 1A calls for a four-story hotel and retail space on the western 15 acres along Knights Trail Road.

Technically the commission decision allows development to proceed. Whether that happens, however, could depend on approval of the Super Wal-Mart planned for phase 1B of the project.

The planning commission sent the Wal-Mart site plan back to the drawing board, denying the plan unanimously.

Revised site plans received by the city last week didn’t go far enough in scaling back parking, creating more green space, connecting sidewalk and creating parks or meeting the commission’s idea of architectural standards, commissioners said.

In short, it was too different from the original “village” concept plan with residential housing above retail shops in some areas, and interconnected walkways surrounding a substantial central park that connected to a large residential development on the eastern side of the site.

Instead, the developer came back with a plan for a retail center anchored by Wal-Mart, driven by changing economic circumstances.

During public comment residents called the original plan beautiful.

“I don’t understand how this fits into the original plan,” said a resident of the Venetian Golf & River Club located nearby on Laurel Road. “I thought we had a good concept. That seems to be changing.”

“We need commercial development. We recognize that,” said resident Tom Jones. “We just don’t need this big box development.”

Sending a message
Waterford Companies asked for more guidance from the planning commission and a continuance of the hearing so architects could meet with city planners to come up with a more acceptable plan.

But commission Chairman John Osmulski said that would send the wrong message.

“I really don’t think we need to continue this. I don’t think they listened to us at all,” Osmulski said.

“If everyone wants this to happen, it should start over. We only get one shot at doing this,” he said.

Mark Barnaby, a Wal-Mart representative, said his team may have misread some of the commission’s critique three weeks ago.

“Obviously, you’re concerned with the plans,” he said. “I hear that. We didn’t go far enough.”

The original plan was to build 20 acres of mixed-use commercial retail and office space, including a movie theater complex and restaurants, next to 50 acres with homes and condos with up to 731 units, creating a village.

But changing economic conditions led to a major change in the concept plan by the developer—going from 731 proposed housing units to 200 units and eliminating a central park to make way for a retail center anchored by Wal-Mart.

Waterford Companies President Mike Miller said he recognized it may take more meetings to reach some kind of agreement on the site plan.

He reiterated a point he made at the last planning commission meeting: “If things don’t get approved, we might have to redo the whole plan,” he said, referring to “more economical housing.”

The commission vote doesn’t kill the proposed Wal-Mart, but it does raise the bar for what’s considered “acceptable use” on the property.