Sarasota Church Could Be Demolished To Build Walmart

Walmart couldn't tear down the Ringling Shopping Center to build a store, and now it's eyeing a church up for sale on Beneva Road to make way for a Neighborhood Market.

Developer Don Neu of Beneva Land Trust/River's Edge Community Church is seeking to rezone about 4 acres on the southwest corner of Bee Ridge and Beneva Roads in Sarasota that would make way for a Walmart Neighborhood Market. The funding for the rezoning and site plan will be made by Jebco Ventures, according to county documents. The property is zoned Office, Professional and Institutional for the church, and the request is to rezone it to Commercial General.

The Sarasota County Commission will consider the rezoning request at its 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 6 meeting at the Sarasota County Administration Building. This comes just a week after the City Commission rejected a site plan for a proposed Walmart Supercenter downtown that didn't require a rezone, but was found to not fit the current zoning.

The church building first opened in 1960 as the Holy Cross Lutheran Church then later changed its name. The church also has a registered ficticious name for business, Graceland Ranch, according to the state Department of Corporations. Today the church, it's for sale for $6.7 million.

This would be the second Walmart Neighborhood Market in Sarasota, but the first outside of city limits. The first one, .

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The Neighborhood Market format primarily sells groceries, but without a full-service deli, butcher and bakery. It also sells basic health and beauty items and includes a pharmacy.

A small scale comprehensive plan amendment is also proposed to place the store in Commercial Corridor, to match surrounding developments as well. As part of its proposal, staff requested the applicant provide market support data that there is demand for added commercial development in that section.

The rezoning request was filed in September 2012, according to county records, initially proposing a grocery store on the property. Residents suspected from the start that the development could be a Walmart and weighed in by sending emails to county staff over the past six months.

Cathy and Robert Lewis wrote to county staff that traffic is already an issue at that intersection with the current zoning use.

"I already know from first-hand experience that under the current zoning for the corner the traffic pattern is stressed, often backing up the east bound lanes of Bee Ridge Road well beyond the western edge of Gettel's property," the Lewis family wrote. "Coming south on Beneva, the traffic backs up as customers attempt to drive in Starbucks, which is directly across the street from the current church."

Gloria Lowe wrote that there is a memorial garden on the church property and wants to make sure it will be moved to an appropriate place.

Sharon Whalen lives in the Village Plaza Condominiums nearby, and regardless of the zoning, she said she doesn't need another grocery store when at least nine grocery stores can be found in a two-mile radius, in addition to Walgreens, Big Lots and CVS that sell food.

Residents Ed Valek and George Eissler wrote in his support of a Walmart, citing added choices and jobs.

Would you like to see a Walmart Neighborhood Market on Beneva Road?

This version corrects the financial status of the church.