CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — During a workshop held on Tuesday, Charlotte County Commissioners reached a consensus to reevaluate the Burnt Store Area Plan, initially endorsed in 2005.
The Burnt Store Corridor Coalition, representing over 11,000 residents in the Burnt Store area, has been advocating for an updated plan for several months. The coalition highlighted concerns such as drainage, flooding, wildlife impacts, and the absence of essential commercial establishments like grocery stores for local residents, stressing the need for a comprehensive revision.
Presenting at the workshop, Charlotte County Planning and Zoning Official Shaun Cullinan provided commissioners with data on the development status of the Burnt Store area, encompassing commercial and residential zoning statistics. Cullinan explained that despite there being over 500,000 square feet of commercial zoning on Burnt Store Road, the low population density has deterred commercial developers from investing in the area.
“They [commercial real estate developers] have a set of criteria that need to be met before choosing a location for shopping plazas or specific operations,” stated Cullinan. “Factors such as population density, demographics, income, among others, play a crucial role in their decision-making process. This is one of the reasons why there has been minimal commercial development, given the current population of roughly 5,500 residents.”
BSCC Chairman John Flemming mentioned ongoing discussions with a retailer interested in establishing a presence on Burnt Store Road to cater to residents who currently have to travel significant distances for shopping.
“We have a major company that finds this area highly appealing,” stated Flemming. “With the increasing population and anticipated growth, this area presents significant opportunities for them.”
With over 10,500 residential units approved for development on Burnt Store, District 1 Commissioner Chris Constance expressed optimism that this would attract commercial interests.
“We anticipate that as residential development progresses, and construction activities increase, commercial establishments will follow suit,” said Constance.
Commissioners agreed to formally reconsider the Burnt Store Area Plan during an upcoming meeting in April, with the possibility of approving an updated version. Cullinan mentioned that the revision process could take approximately 16-18 months to complete.
Fleming welcomed the decision to include the Burnt Store Area Plan on the commission’s agenda, emphasizing the importance of incorporating public feedback during the plan’s development phase.
