SPRING HILL – The Kroger on Port Royal Road will now double its size, and the City Municipal Planning Commission will approve a primary supermarket on July 13.
The site’s plans for the 31,750-square-foot expansion were submitted to the plan commission last month, where it verified that it would not be a market redevelopment, as noted in the Kroger in the northern aspect of the city. This expansion would be an extension and redesign of the existing store, as well as the reconfiguration of traffic lanes and the installation of smooth traffic on the main front of Port Royal Road.
Kroger’s application dates back to 2008, when the original construction was built, the component of which was for long-term expansion. The request for a traffic light, according to the article’s report, states in the original 2008 agreement that “it would be installed on a long-term date decided through the City of Spring Hill,” planning director Steve Foote stated that city staff simply cannot find any evidence of such an agreement.
“It’s an expansion of the building, a reconfiguration of the entire building area,” Foote said. “I also did not find anything where the city would have agreed or presented to pay for some of the traffic lighting accessories. One thing that has been located, Public Works reached an agreement in June 2016 with the developer throughout the advertising subdivision on the West Aspect of the Road.
The agreement stipulates that the developer of the advertising property, N. Houston Parks, J. Steve Parks and James E. Parks (collectively known as “Parks”) would contribute up to 25%, or a maximum of $37,500, to the acquisition of the traffic light. The challenge is that the agreement is only valid for 4 years, expires in June and cancels its use to start the structure of the Port Royal traffic light.
The facility is expected to take between six and nine months, the staff anticipates it will possibly take longer. Given the loss of the escy agreement and the lack of evidence of the City’s monetary responsibility, the sign’s investment would be borne by the applicant, Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).
The signal had already been requested in 2014, but was not approved. A 2017 test was also conducted across the city to determine whether the roundabouts would provide a mandatory solution to the road.
“I don’t think it ever refused in the city, however, it wasn’t approved and built,” Foote said. “In 2017, the city conducted a study on Port Royal Road to read about roundabouts and the feasibility of having roundabouts on this component of the road. I don’t know if it’s had an effect on time or not, but that’s what’s going on.”
GMC’s Randy Perry spoke on Kroger’s behalf, sharing the company’s vision for expansion and the new design and new look of the building.
“Kroger would like to expand the store, and with the expansion, it’s not just about adding a new finish of the building,” Perry said. “It’s a new building with a logo.”
With respect to Port Royal’s smooth traffic, Perry stated that the smooth installation is “a vital component of this expansion,” if not the vital maximum. However, he claimed that Kroger was willing to pay “the maximum, but not all” of the cost. He advised that the escy agreement with the park organization be revised to see if they would be willing to extend it.
“We’re more interested in consumers getting in and out safely, and we hope to attract more traffic to the store, in a different way that we wouldn’t need to expand,” he said. “Kroger needs to have smooth traffic at this four-lane intersection where Kroger would pay for most, but not all, of the charge based on Spring Hill’s current smooth traffic requirements. If the Park Group needs the receiver’s refund, that’s something Kroger would look to take the city to paint with landowners in the west side to get investments in that.”
Councilman Matt Fitterer said the plan commission might not succeed in a monetary settlement on behalf of the city and that the review of the escy agreement with park owners will be reviewed through the council of the mayor and councillors.
“If you’re looking for the city to commit funding, the planning commission can’t help you,” Fitterer said. “As far as the mechanics or items installed, I think it’s reasonable for the city to expect equipment that’s comparable to what’s used elsewhere within the city.”
In the end, the Kroger expansion was approved in a unanimous 7-0 vote by planners.
Contact Jay Powell at [email protected].