Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Alachua County DRC approves revised plan to replace Publix at Tower Square
Summary
The Alachua County Development Review Committee approved a revised final development plan to demolish the existing Publix and build an approximately 55,000-square-foot supermarket at 5801 SW 75th Street. Staff found the plan consistent with the county comprehensive plan and the Unified Land Development Code; the committee approved the plan by voice vote.
The Alachua County Development Review Committee on April 16 approved a revised final development plan to demolish the existing Publix and replace it with an approximately 55,000-square-foot supermarket at Tower Square, 5801 Southwest 75th Street.
Jacob Southplanner, growth management staff for Alachua County, told the committee the application covers roughly 14.5 acres including parking and is consistent with the county comprehensive plan, the Unified Land Development Code and the approved zoning master plan. "Staff recommends approval of the revised final development plan for the Publix supermarket at Tower Square," Southplanner said during the staff presentation.
Southplanner described an eight-phase construction sequence that begins with installing fencing and erosion protection, proceeds to utility removal and demolition of the existing building, and then construction of the new store. Subsequent phases will replace curbs, install new cart corrals, resurface heavy-duty asphalt behind the loading area and resurface parking areas across the shopping center. He said the plan will add ADA-accessible spaces, new cart corrals and temporary signage to help customers navigate the site during construction.
Claudia Vega of EDA Consultants, representing the applicant, said she had no formal presentation but was available to answer the committee's questions.
The committee opened the floor for public comment and heard none. A committee member moved to approve the revised final development plan; the motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote. The chair announced, "The motion passes." The meeting record does not show a roll-call tally for the vote.
For context, the DRC's authority is limited to approval, approval with conditions, or denial of development applications under the Unified Land Development Code; zoning changes or ordinance amendments require action by the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners. Appeals of final development decisions must be filed by petition for writ of certiorari in the Circuit Court for Alachua County within 30 days, or as otherwise provided by Florida statute, the chair said.
In other business, the committee approved the draft minutes from the March 19, 2026 meeting (motion seconded by Jacob Southplanner) and adjourned at 1:43 p.m.
Next steps: the revised final development plan approved by the DRC will be implemented by the applicant according to the phase schedule included in the plan; further required approvals or notifications, if any, will be communicated to respondents and noted in the record.
