Business terrain continues to change
BY VICI PAPAJOHN Gulf Breeze News vici@gulfbreezenews.com

Islands throughout the parking lot area in front of the Publix Supermarket include trees and shrubbery, according to an approved site map, right. The greenery will be added after the building is constructed to increase the green space afforded by clusters of protected oak.

Community excitement over the signs of progress

the Sea Shell Collections Shopping Center property on Highway 98 were dampened briefly last week by the removal of several oak trees on the property. Moulton Properties had saved as many oak trees as possible, according to sources, and had even marked some trees which later needed to be removed for the parking and roads hoping to save them as well.

"We visited the site at least twice," assured Shane Carmichael, Community Service Director, "and none of the necessary protected trees did come down. Some trees that were left and marked came down, but they were not protected on the site plan."

The site plan includes numerous interior spaces with islands for trees and shrubberies. They will be added as part of the development. Large clusters of oaks were left along the perimeter areas of the development which will house Publix Grocery Store, but interior trees were removed due to transportation and construction concerns.

"The shopping center site plan reflects a compromise between the old codes and the new CRA

Community Redevelopment District) rules," explained Gulf Breeze City Manager Edwin "Buz" Eddy. The project planning began before the CRA rules and standards were developed, and developers Moulton Properties worked with the city to include as many new standards as possible, according to Eddy. "The shopping center sits back on the lot, unlike new buildings which will front the road," Eddy explained, "but they have included many CRA standards and guidelines."

According to sources at Moulton Properties, the old CVS building across from the center is not leased, but they are in discussions with interested parties.

Two other projects, an extended stay hotel on Soundview Trail and Driftwood Townhomes, on Duncan Avenue behind them United State Postal Service office are still working with the newly formed Architectural Review Board (ARB) to finalize design and placement. The two projects have been tabled for further discussion with the Architectural Review Board but have been conceptually approved by the Gulf Breeze City Council. Two banks along Gulf Breeze Pkwy. have also submitted design plans to the ARB which are also tabled. The ARB will meet again once changes are made and the developers are ready.

"The ARB is an ad hoc committee and the process works, but much will have to be worked out," explains Eddy. The ARB has only met three times and has reviewed four properties.

The committee looks at design issues and advises the developer of CRA required design standards in the core area, providing suggestion for changes. Numerous areas in Gulf Breeze proper will be redeveloped and redesigned in the near future, and the process outlined is for the plan to go before the ARB, the Development Review Board (DRB) and the City Council before approval.

Activity is quickening along the Highway 98 corridor as well. Efforts continue to install a traffic light at the Whisper Bay cut through, creating safe access and egress to and from Breeze Cinemas, The Club, Crane Cove and the shopping center property. AGulf Coast Community Bank is slated to be built on the property on an outparcel.

The vacated Pizza Hut in front of Beall's is expected to become a pharmacy, according to Bill Dubois, assistant to the Planning Director of Santa Rosa County.

Development planned by Lowe's and the developer has met once again with Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials to discuss access issues, according to Dubois, and initial discussions for a "big box" assumed to be a Target down by the Publix in Navarre are "a little further behind due to examination of traffic flow affect on Hwy 98."

"We do have an agreement worked out for the impact fees for the Moulton Properties Sea Shell Collections," Dubois says. "It is based on square footage, and depends on who pulls the building permits as to who pays the fees."

Bank of Pensacola and Panera Bread are expected to open in the complex.

A Home Depot is still on for Navarre, and Dubois is expecting a revised site plan for the project in couple of weeks. The Home Depot could break ground immediately after the development order is granted some time this fall.

"As many potential outparcels as exist, it is always possible," Dubois replies to questions about the rumored Chick Fil-A and a Cracker Barrel. "I have not heard that, but there is plenty of land down there. We have not had any discussions with those franchises, but a Whataburger is coming to Holley by t he Sea on the north side of 98."