Planning commission approves MRT Lawn and Garden Center conditional use and site plan for 385–395 US 41 Bypass N.

The City of Venice Planning Commission approved two related applications for a proposed MRT Lawn and Garden Center, voting 7-0 to grant conditional-use approval and to approve a concurrent site development plan for the property at 385 and 395 US 41 Bypass North.

Planning staff presented the two quasi‑judicial petitions — conditional use petition 24-56CU for outdoor sales and display and site development plan petition 24-55SP — stating the parcel is about 2.1 acres with a commercial future land‑use designation and commercial (Centermass) zoning. Britney Smith, planner for the City of Venice, told commissioners the petitions had been reviewed by the technical review committee and were found to meet applicable provisions of the City of Venice Land Development Code and the comprehensive plan.

Agent Jackson Boone, attorney with the Boone Law Firm representing MRT Lawn and Garden Center, said the proposal would reuse two existing restaurant buildings (formerly Left Coast Seafood and a Pizza Hut) and add a centrally located shade structure and outdoor display areas typical of MRT locations. "We will respectfully request your approval on both applications," Boone said at the close of his presentation.

Boone and the applicant team explained the outdoor sales and display would occupy two shaded areas: a large central display between the buildings for plants, pots and materials, and a smaller frontage display intended mainly for larger decorative items. The site plan retains and upgrades existing parking, adds required buffers adjacent to RMF‑4 and OPI zoned properties to the west, and shows dry stormwater ponds to meet water‑management standards. The proposed shade structure is shown at 17 feet tall; the existing buildings are about 18½ feet.

Commissioners asked whether both buildings would be used (Boone said yes), how the project aligned with a gateway redevelopment strategy in the comprehensive plan, and whether future access agreements with a neighboring Plaza Mexico parcel could be implemented without returning to the commission. Boone said the plan identifies two potential future connection points and that a negotiated easement with the neighbor would likely be required before any new access was opened. Staff and the applicant also noted the traffic statement indicated a likely reduction in peak trip generation compared with the prior quick‑service and sit‑down restaurant uses on the two sites.

One resident, Ronald Seagrest, who lives adjacent to the project, spoke during public comment and said he had concerns about herbicide application near his property and about potential future flooding; he asked the commission to note those concerns on the record. The applicant noted stormwater would be handled via on‑site dry detention designed to meet applicable agency standards.

After discussion, a commissioner moved and the planning commission voted 7-0 to approve conditional‑use petition 24-56CU. The commission then voted 7-0 to approve site and development plan petition 24-55SP.

The approvals allow the garden‑center use with outdoor sales and display as shown on the approved site plan; the motion records and staff reports will accompany the petitions as they proceed through any remaining ministerial steps.

Votes at a glance: Conditional use petition 24-56CU — approved 7-0. Site and development plan petition 24-55SP — approved 7-0.

The applicant and staff said improvements including upgraded parking stalls, landscaping and buffers and dry stormwater ponds will be completed as required by the Code. The commission’s action was a recommendation/approval at the planning commission level for the quasi‑judicial petitions; follow‑on ministerial permits and any required agency permits (e.g., stormwater/Swiftmud) remain to be completed by the applicant.

Sources: Planning staff presentation; testimony by Jackson Boone and project team; public comment by Ronald Seagrest; Planning Commission motions and votes.