Walkable shopping center planned in Port Charlotte – Gulfshore Business

St. Petersburg-based developer Sembler Co. inked a deal to purchase 14.5 acres off State Road 776 and Flamingo Boulevard to build a Port Charlotte shopping center that West Port residents can reach by walking or biking. 

The center will contain a grocer and 9,800 square feet of retail space in the Murdock section of Port Charlotte. 

Before Sembler could proceed with its plans, Kevin Letch, the firm’s senior development manager, asked Charlotte County commissioners for an amended buffer zone requirement to limit trees, which might impede the shopping center’s visibility from the road.  

The required buffer zone is 25 feet. 

At a May 28 commissioners land–use meeting, it appeared the shopping center would not materialize. Letch said retailers and grocer committed to the shopping center would balk at the original buffer zone requirements. Without an amended buffer requirement, “I doubt the project would go forward,” he said. 

Letch did not reveal who the grocer might be in the West Port shopping center. 

Charlotte County Commissioner Chris Constance told Letch the shopping center should retain its natural trees and plantings. 

“You folks bought this property knowing what you were getting, knowing what the buffer was requested. I honestly don’t care about your visibility. I care about the quality of life for the citizens of Charlotte County and how things look as we go,” Constance said. 

He suggested that the developer erect a monument sign displaying the names of businesses on the corner of the entrance road. 

Commissioner Bill Truex, a developer, said retailers are precise with how they want landscaping and buffer zones to look. 

Commissioner Joe Tiseo presented positive aspects to having a walkable shopping center for West Port residents, including traffic. 

“As more rooftops come in here, which they will, we’re going to get more external trips to other grocery stores or other things. Not to mention there’s a retail component here of 9,800 square feet that will make this more of a walkable, livable community, which was the vision of this board when we did this project,” Tiseo said. 

He sees having a grocery store near West Port as a benefit to the community, he said.  

Commissioners and Letch came to a compromise. Instead of removing all trees with trunks less than 12 inches in diameter, now all trees under 8 inches in diameter can be removed, with the exception of palm trees, which can be removed if trunks are less than12 inches. 

Letch said the revised amendment should satisfy the parties. 

Commissioners voted 4-1 for the revised amendment, with Constance voting against it.