Planned redevelopment of Publix/Walmart center draws resident concerns about drainage and noise

A major modification to redevelop a grocery/retail center that includes Walmart and Publix stores drew neighborhood objections March 24 over drainage, noise and existing site conditions.

Applicant representatives told the Zoning Hearing Master the project would replace the existing Publix footprint with a consolidated large retail space and reorient buildings toward the arterial. “We are proposing a more specific mix of uses to ensure that we're properly analyzing the traffic and the parking for this development,” Cammy Corbett, counsel for the applicant, said during the hearing.

Transportation consultant Michael Yates said the plan would move retail away from the northern homes, add a southbound left‑turn lane at the project driveway, lengthen a northbound right‑turn lane and add a southbound right to accommodate school traffic; the applicant also plans a northbound lane addition at the County Road (CR) 579/MLK intersection. “The proposed building is being relocated … So the retail buildings are being pulled away from Terry Lane to reduce that noise, but we're also adding a southbound left turn lane into the project driveway that does not exist today,” Yates said.

Residents on adjacent Terry Lane told the master they face chronic flooding and noise from the existing center and were worried the redevelopment could worsen drainage or remove a berm that they said currently reduces visual exposure. “The noise is just so bad because we're right there and directly in front of the loading docks on the Walmart and it's like 24/7 wham banging,” resident Grover Maggard said.

The applicant’s civil engineer said the redevelopment will be required to meet current stormwater standards and that site work under the new permit regime should improve drainage relative to historic conditions. “If anything, any kind of stormwater or flooding situation will be improved from what currently exists out there now,” engineer Eric Giuliani said.

County staff supported the major modification subject to conditions addressing buffers, setbacks and parking variations; transportation staff reviewed and supported the proposed parking reduction given the proposed design, trip cap and access configuration. The project team and opponents agreed on the need for detailed engineering design; opponents asked for stronger assurances on drainage and on the preservation of buffers during construction. The hearing master closed public testimony; the case will move to the Board of County Commissioners for final action after the written recommendation is filed.