Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/114013
Sarasota News Leader March 8, 2013 Page 31 After unanimously approving the new date, the board did agree to allow any people who had signed up to speak at the March 6 public hearing to do so. PUBLIC PROTESTS The first person to take that opportunity was Sharon Whalen, who already had sent Mason an email on March 3 protesting the rezoning. In the email, Whalen wrote, "Last month more than 15 individuals testified to the [Planning] Commission — to no avail. One by one we shared our concerns about what is already a very dangerous area (for both cars and pedestrians.) We tried to get them to understand that we don't need another grocery store (there are 8 full service grocery stores within a 2 mile radius)." She added, "We tried to help them see that replacing a church that operates just a few hours a week with a 24 hour a day, 40,000 square foot grocery (or any major commercial development) is just not neighborhood friendly. It is the opposite of what the [county's] comprehensive plan calls for and the opposite of what the neighborhood wants." A Google Map shows the location of the Walgreens that would be catercornered from the new Walmart. Image courtesy Google Map Addressing the commissioners on March 6, Whalen said she had a petition with 318 signatures opposing the rezoning. "About 300 of [the signers] had absolutely no idea this development was under consideration" before learning of it through her efforts, she added. "Our biggest concern as it relates to our neighborhood … is the 'zoning creep,'" Whalen told Whalen continued in the email, "The crowd at the board. that [Planning Commission] hearing was near- As commercial development expands in the ly speechless when the commissioners asked area, she said, "Our neighborhood starts to no questions of us, and ruled unanimously in deteriorate more and more." favor of Walmart without even acknowledging the legitimacy of the concerns of neighbors. She also invited the commissioners to drive We hope that those of you who are elect- through that intersection between 3 and 4 ed officials will be more mindful of the p.m. on a weekday, when, she said, traffic is concerns and interests of both taxpayers so thick that drivers have to wait through multiple changes of the lights. and voters."