The Publix Super Market in Holmes Beach may someday have an accompanying pharmacy and liquor store.
City commissioners reached consensus May 11 to move forward with an application to rezone the defunct Regions Bank at 503 Manatee Ave. from Commercial-1 to C-2 so the long-vacated building could be converted to retail space.
The C-1 and C-2 zones are both commercial, but C-1 is meant to house office locations, while C-2 is intended for offices and retail businesses, including pharmacies and liquor stores.
SCD at Anna Maria LLC purchased the 3,847-square-foot property for $1.22 million in 2012 from Regions Bank.
However, the building has since sat vacant.
Attorney Scott Rudacille of Blalock Walters law firm in Bradenton represented the ownership at the city meeting and told commissioners they hope to make the property productive.
“That bank has been vacant for some time,” Rudacille said. “It’s being proposed that this site will be a Publix pharmacy and liquor store combination. …We think it will be a great use of the site.”
Rachel Layton, planning director for ZNS Engineering, one of the project developers, said the conversion would come with several changes, such as removing the drive-through ATM lanes, refinishing the parking lot and new landscaping.
City planner Bill Brisson recommended the city move forward with rezoning the parcel as requested.
“It’s probably the best rezone application I’ve ever seen here in this city,” Brisson said. “They did a really good job. They addressed all of the conditions listed in our code.”
Commissioner Carol Soustek said the proposal also impressed her.
“There’s nothing I can complain about,” Soustek said. “That site has sat there for so long there should be cobwebs on it. So, to see it become productive again and be part of the community again? I’m very pleased to see that.”
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said the change would be an aesthetic improvement for a corridor that serves as a “front door to our city.”
“This was a breath of fresh air,” Commission Chair Jim Kihm said. “It’s just nice to see that site, which has sat empty for so long, being turned into another productive use in the city.”
The commission’s next discussion about the rezone was not scheduled as of May 13.