Planners approve new Publix, but developer isn't satisfied

The company will have to build a slow-down lane or pay $300,000.

By CHUIN-WEI YAP, Times Staff Writer
Published October 26, 2007

WESLEY CHAPEL - A new Publix supermarket, destined to join the Home Depot store at State Road 54 and Eiland Boulevard, got the green light from the county's top staff planners Thursday.

It's good news for the crowded subdivisions in that area, but not so great for CRF Zephyrhills, the developer that's proposing the 64,000-square-foot grocery store.

Pasco planners, for safety reasons, want CRF to add a deceleration lane on SR 54 for cars turning right into the plaza, despite being told that the state Department of Transportation won't approve the extra lane.

County officials slapped on a condition: If state officials indeed kill the deceleration lane, CRF will have to cough up the estimated $300,000 cost to build the lane.

The county's traffic rules require this, officials said.

"It has to be on their nickel," said Ahsan Khalil, Pasco's traffic study planner. "They triggered the improvement."

The setback came after Rick Millian, CRF's attorney, conceded to building the developer's share of an internal street interconnection through the adjacent Home Depot property.

The Development Review Committee initially wanted to postpone Publix's request for approval, because Home Depot representatives weren't present Thursday, even though they had been notified their plaza's plan was up for review.

It prompted Millian's boss, Joel Tew, to join the throngof lawyers already crowding the podium.

"Have you been sworn?" County Administrator John Gallagher asked Tew.

"I have been sworn," Tew retorted. "But I'm about to swear some more."

Tew and Millian got the go-ahead from the county, but that was before things took a sour turn when the deceleration lane issue came up. It's possible a court appeal may follow, though Millian said, "I don't like doing that."

On Thursday, the 2,000-acre Epperson Ranch also got approval from the committee for its overall development plans. The proposal now moves to land use, County Commission and rezoning hearings.

Chuin-Wei Yap can be reached at 813 909-4613 or cyap@sptimes.com.

[Last modified October 25, 2007, 22:18:24]