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Tarpon OKs Lowe's Development Agreement

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BY MARK SCHANTZ

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 5, 2008

SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF

TARPON SPRINGS - The plan by Lowe's to construct one of its home improvement warehouse stores on 18.7 acres along U.S. 19 moved closer to fruition this week.

A Lowe's official told the City Commission on Tuesday night this store would not be adorned in traditional Lowe's shades, but rather colors that reflect the city's Hellenic cultural heritage.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the North Carolina-based retail chain's revised site plan and development agreement. Lowe's plans to build a 153,000-square-foot home improvement center.

The store site is at Pine Street, north of Tarpon Avenue.

Lowe's plans to pay to extend and realign East Spruce Street, which will wind through the property and end at a traffic signal at U.S. 19. Huey Avenue will also be improved and realigned to join the Spruce Street extension.

Commissioners thanked Lowe's officials for revising the site plan to save more trees on the property and provide more green space.

Commissioner Robin Saenger said she hopes that when the store is ready to open, in five years, it will be a model for the environmentally conscious.

In response, Lowe's officials said one green suggestion for the store, using solar power, isn't feasible. The number of solar panels that could be installed on the site wouldn't produce enough electricity to operate all of the retail center's lights, they said.

Mayor Beverley Billiris said having a Lowe's in Tarpon Springs will save city residents the gasoline money it would take to drive to the chain's location in the Countryside area of Clearwater.

Commissioner Susan Slattery said the local Lowe's would provide much-needed jobs for the community.

Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-815-1075 or schantz@suncoastnews.com.

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