Community Corner

Big-Box Development Meeting in Valrico Tonight (May 14)

"No Bloomingdale Big Box" is the topic slated for the May 14 meeting at The Palms Community Church in Valrico.

 

Residents opposed to big-box retail development and apartments next to the Bloomingdale Regional Library are asked to voice their concerns at a community meeting today, May 14 at the The Palms Community Church.

The church is just west of Bloomingdale High School, at 1310 East Bloomingdale Avenue.

Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The meeting is set to start 7:30 p.m. It follows a May 7 protest on Bloomingdale Avenue that drew about 100 residents carrying hand-made signs in protest of proposed development on land zoned for a 158,800-square-foot big-box store, along with other commercial space and 260 apartments.

  • Neighbors Rally Against Bloomingdale Big-Box Development

As of Tuesday morning, May 14, 1,034 people had posted their support for an online petition at change.org to "stop plans to build a supercenter in Valrico, Florida."

Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to an April 23 Patch report, property owner, Redstone Properties LLC, was conducting a traffic study required by the county that would allow the company to begin development of the property, which is already zoned for a 158,800-square-foot big-box store, along with other commercial space and 260 apartments.

According to county planner Matt Lewis, the developer has not confirmed what big-box store it wants to build but has mentioned the possibility of a Super Target or Sam's Club. However, residents say they've seen plans designating it as a Super Walmart.

Opposition includes the contention that the development would bring more traffic to an already congested road in a less-than-satisfactory transit corridor, running from Bloomingdale Avenue to Lithia-Pinecrest Road.

Also, that the project would adversely impact wetlands, hundred-year-old oak trees and nests of gopher turtles.

Safety, too, has been raised as a concern, noting the student-centered development in the area, including the library, Bloomingdale High School, Burns Middle School, Alafia and Cimino elementary schools, the Campo Family YMCA and the Bloomingdale Little League fields.

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RELATED COVERAGE:

  • 'No Bloomingdale Big Box' Event Set for Rush-Hour Traffic (includes reader comments)
  • Opposition Preps for Big-Box Development Protest
  • Bloomingdale Residents Continue To Fight Big-Box Development (includes link to a petition that has garnered more than 830 signatures)
  • Higginbotham Fields Big-Box Development Question (video and reader comments posted at Brandon Patch)
  • Commissioner Answers Big-Box Development Question (video and comments posted at Bloomingdale-Riverview Patch)

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