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Tarpon City Officials Eye Wal-Mart Property For Park

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: November 28, 2008

Updated:

TARPON SPRINGS - Now that Wal-Mart has shelved - at least for now - its plans to build one of its Supercenter stores along U.S. 19, city officials would like to acquire the property.

The city, which on behalf of a private owner once marketed the land to a benefit management company that was thinking of moving to the site, now wants the property for a park.

Wal-Mart, however, has no immediate plans to sell.

Instead, Quenta Vettel, a company spokeswoman, said last week, Wal-Mart will "monitor the environment in the Tarpon Springs area" before deciding what to do next.

According to some City Commissioners, the environment Wal-Mart officials will keep their eyes on is the city's political landscape.

In announcing on Nov. 21 Wal-Mart's decision to put its Tarpon Springs store plans on hold, Vettel said the retailer would forgo taking legal action against the city. Last month the City Commission determined the development plan it approved for the Wal-Mart store in 2005 had lapsed and the project would have to be reviewed again by the city.

At the time, City Attorney James Yacavone said it was his opinion the development order remains valid. A judge likely would rule in Wal-Mart's favor if it chose to sue the city, Yacavone warned commissioners.

Although Wal-Mart officials would not shed any additional light on their plans, Commissioner Susan Slattery thinks they are waiting for the results of the next municipal election.

In 2010 the mayor's seat and the seats of city commissioners Peter Dalacos and Chris Alahouzos will be up for grabs. Mayor Beverley Billiris and Dalacos cannot run again because of term limits in the city charter.

The possible political shift in 2010 and the current economic climate are two big factors in Wal-Mart's decision to hold off on building a store in Tarpon Springs, Slattery believes.

Slattery, who is serving her first year in office, said when she was campaigning the first question people asked her is, "How do you feel about Wal-Mart?"

"Ninety percent of the people in this city don't want it," Slattery said.

If Wal-Mart decides to develop its property, Slattery noted, the retailer would face having to go through a new site plan process that includes protection of a bald eagle nest on the site.

Slattery would like Wal-Mart "to decide to be a good neighbor" and sell the property to the city for ballparks and other recreational uses.

In addition, Slattery wants a referendum on the 2010 municipal election ballot asking residents if they want a Wal-Mart on the property on U.S. 19. If the vote is overwhelmingly negative Wal-Mart executives might call a permanent halt to plans to build a store here, she said.

Dalacos, however, said he believes Wal-Mart will wait until after the 2011 city election before making its next move. By then a majority of the commissioners who oppose Wal-Mart's plans could be out of office, he said.

Billiris, however, said she believes Wal-Mart's prime concern is the economic climate, not politics. No matter who is on the commission, the watchdog group Concerned Citizen's of Tarpon Springs likely will remain vigilant in its opposition to the retailer building on the Anclote River, the mayor said.

Dory Larsen, president of the Concerned Citizens of Tarpon Springs, said the group will "definitely monitor" the Wal-Mart property and "follow up to see what they are up to."

Larsen said she suspects Wal-Mart will bankroll City Commission candidates and try to develop the property later.

If Wal-Mart decides to try to build on its land here, it would have to redo its development plans to take into account the eagle's nest on the property, according to Billiris.

In addition, the mayor said, the city is making amendments to its land development code that could prohibit big-box retailers such as Wal-Mart from building within the city, even along the U.S. 19 commercial corridor.

Billiris said she contacted Wal-Mart officials this week and was told the chain would have no interest in selling the land for at least three years. Wal-Mart may wait for property prices in the area to begin rising before considering selling, Billiris said.

Billiris said she has also been in contact with county and federal officials to determine their interest in joining with the city to help preserve the riverfront land.

Alahouzos said he thinks Wal-Mart officials have realized people here don't want a Supercenter and "the economic climate for retailers is not good."

He hopes Wal-Mart eventually agrees to sell the property so it can be preserved.

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

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