Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/86226
Sarasota News Leader October 5, 2012 Neighbors to the east and south of the store asked for some provision to allow pedestrian access to Payne Park. Although the architect inked in plans for a north-south walkway from the neighborhood to Ringling Boulevard, he made no allowance for people walking direct- ly behind the store to the park. During the neighborhood meeting, Belaire said, "Under our site plan, you'd cut through the back of the house [e.g. the loading and garbage area south of the building]. But a cut- through may not be appropriate. We're work- ing on this, internally and with city staff." Those efforts came to naught. Courtney Men- dez, the city's planner for the project, said this week that neighbors will have to walk around three sides of the block to get to Payne Park, to avoid "trespassing" behind the supercenter. It is unclear whether Walmart will erect any barriers to prevent people from walking be- hind the store as a cut-through to Payne Park. During the neighborhood meeting, Walmart architect Michael Blinn also noted the store would be different from those of his normal big-box design. Page 18 City officials on the Development Review Committee have cleared plans for the pro- posed Walmart on Ringling Boulevard. Photo by Norman Schimmel "This store is smaller and shortened," he said. "There is an all-glass entry with a canopy at a pedestrian scale." While the Planning Board will hear Walmart's petition and review its site plan, there is very little it can do to amend them. Wednesday's "sign-off" by the Development Review Com- mittee means all technical issues have been resolved. And the project meets all zoning re- quirements. 2012 Safe Sex Halloween Bash www.SafeSexHalloweenBash.com SATURDAY • OCTOBER 27 • 9PM MICHAEL'S ON EAST