A decision by county commissioners that’ll determine whether a Publix grocery store is constructed in Tavernier was pushed to a meeting in the fall. The postponement of two resolutions related to the project came after Mayor Craig Cates and Commissioner David Rice were absent, leaving only three commissioners at the June 21 meeting in Key Largo.
Mayor Pro Tem Holly Merrill Raschein led the June 21 meeting in Cates’ absence. She said staff recommended the tabling of the two items to the next meeting in the Upper Keys, which will be Sept. 20 at the Murray Nelson Government Center.
“I think having a commission firing on all pistons when we have a decision like this to be made is a good thing,” she said. “This allows for more public comment, more input and also gives the entities time to respond to the public’s concerns.”
Developers with Blackstone Group — Tavernier 925 LLC are seeking a change to county land development code to allow a structure containing up to 58,500 square feet of nonresidential floor area at the former concrete facility located near MM 92. An initial application from the developer’s agent, Smith/Hawks PL, to the county in March 2022 originally proposed up to 70,000 square feet of nonresidential floor area in order to build a 64,000-square-foot Publix supermarket and liquor store.
A change to the application in late May, however, stated the developer’s intent to decrease the allowable nonresidential development by 11,500 square feet to construct a 58,454-square-foot supermarket and liquor store. It came following a county staff report earlier in the year that stated the proposal was inconsistent with a Tavernier Liveable CommuniKeys Plan, which guides development from Tavernier Creek to MM 97. A county staff report on the proposal states that no amendment shall be approved “which will result in an adverse community change to the planning area in which the proposed development is located.”
Per the applicant, assertions made by the county staff are unfounded and unsubstantiated since suburban mainland commercial areas permit and promote the development of supermarkets. Moreover, the county’s assertions that the size of the commercial structure is contrary to community character is an arbitrarily created standard that appears to be solely based on public comments.
The planning commission voted 3-2 to recommend that county commissioners deny the request at a special April 28 meeting. A number of Tavernier residents have spoken against the project, citing issues of traffic and inconsistency with the quaint, natural and historical nature of the community.
Developers are also hoping to build some 86 workforce housing units to go along with the supermarket and liquor store.
