Massive Goodwill Store Approved for North Trail

The Sarasota City Planning Board Wednesday night recommended approval of a 30,000-square-foot Goodwill “superstore” on the North Tamiami Trail, by a 3-2 vote.

Neighbors from both sides of the Trail spoke against aspects of the project, while lauding the nonprofit company’s job-training efforts.

The final decision on the proposed project rests in the hands of the Sarasota City Commission, probably in early December.

About 17,000 square feet are proposed as a retail center, selling secondhand goods, with the remainder of the space reserved for job training, goods processing, offices and a “community center” available for the neighborhood.

The new Goodwill will be a few blocks north of another big-box store, at US 41 and Myrtle Avenue. The 33,000-square-foot , replacing a 40-year-old Winn-Dixie. 

The current Goodwill store across the street will be closed in 12 months. Goodwill Vice President for Real Estate and Market Development Ray Couch told the planning board, “Our lease expires in 12 months. It’s easier to go somewhere else than build this. We don’t want to move away from the neighborhood, but we’re in a crunch. If we can’t get this project off the ground, we’ll have to go somewhere else.”

The two-acre site is in the 5100-block of North Tamiami Trail, at the intersection with Mecca Drive. The site is the location of the former Café of the Arts and Old Hickory Restaurant.

Couch said Goodwill’s business is booming. “The demand for our products and services has outstripped our supply. Lots of people who used to shop in department stores now shop here,” he said. “Business is up in double digits.”

Neighbors testified about several problems they see with traffic, tree protection, landscaping and security. With as many a six semi-trailer trucks servicing the store every day, noise was a major neighborhood concern.

Marjorie Sykes is the president of the Bayou Oaks Neighborhood Association, where the new store would be located. She toured other Goodwill “supercenters” to get an idea of their operation. “We visited the store at Honore and 17th Street. The trucks come 24 hours of the day. Is there any screening or fencing to block off the loading dock?” she asked.

Other neighbors feared the sight of semis traveling east on Mecca, a residential neighborhood without sidewalks. Because the intersection of Mecca and the Trail has no traffic light, some were concerned about traffic tie-ups. “That intersection is not set up for that kind of traffic,” said Dawn Martell.

The site has several tall, mature trees. “They are taking out 17 laurel oaks. A total of 41 trees are going away,” said Jono Miller. “Only 12 [trees] are staying, so they’ll be taking out 77 percent of the trees on this site.”

Project Engineer David Howard attempted to soothe some of the concerns. “No trucks will go down Mecca,” he said. “We’ll be installing a turn lane on Mecca to facilitate traffic.”

Property owner and developer Jim Bridges told the planning board if the project did not receive city approval, he woulld put the land up for sale.

“Goodwill is making a 20-year commitment, and I’ve made a commitment,” he said. “If you turn it down, I give up. I truly give up. I’ll put it back on the market. I have to get them open in 12 months.”

Because the developer is not asking for a rezoning or variance, no neighborhood meeting was required. And that drew concerns not only from neighbors but also the planning board members, including Jennifer Ahearn-Koch.

“This is the poster child for supporting community process. A neighborhood meeting could have allayed many of the comments tonight,” she said. “And I hate to settle for the big box as our standard.”

In the end, the planning board recommended the city commission approve the project, by a 3-2 vote, with Chair Susan Chapman and Member Chris Gallagher in the minority.