The city planning commission votes unanimously to recommend approval of a Home Depot site plan. Critics focus on traffic.
By Ramon Lopez
Original Air Date: January 7, 2026
Host: A big commercial development in Venice is winding its way through the approval process, and Ramon Lopez has the details.
Ramon Lopez: The first major element of the planned Venice Commons shopping center in North Venice was formally presented to the Venice Planning Commission on Tuesday.
Proposed location of the Venice Commons shopping center on Laurel Road, near I-75.
And by a unanimous vote of seven to nothing, the planning commissioners recommended to the Venice City Council approval of a site and development plan for a 107,000 square foot Home Depot there, plus a 28,000 square foot outdoor garden center. This, on eleven acres north of Laurel Road and west of Twin Laurel Boulevard and east of a planned Walmart, which will cover 22 acres.
Also destined for the commercial complex are a car wash and a Panda Express Chinese restaurant on outparcels. Currently, the land is green space.
Home Depot also won approval of outdoor display and sale of retail merchandise, larger signs, modified parking and light fixtures that exceed the maximum height limit. Like other Home Depots in the area, there will be a seasonal outdoor sales area and rental vehicle parking.
Venice Commons will stretch over 83 acres, with a total of 17 parcels.
Home Depot’s agent, Jackson Boone, said all Venice city requirements have been met.
Jackson Boone
Jackson Boone: We’ve done our work. All the applicable authorities have done their work, and they’ve approved it. This project in front of you is a component of the overall commercial project. We’ve been here in front of you all for multiple applications concerning this overall property, and we respectfully request your approval for the site development plan.
RL: He was backed up by Roger Clark, the Planning and Zoning Director for Venice.
Roger Clark: This is a typical commercial center development. This development has met all the requirements for them to develop this property. I heard the term “unresolved issues.” All the issues for this development have been addressed, reviewed and deemed compliant as you’ve seen in the presentations by staff today and as indicated by the applicant.
RL: But support for the Venice Common shopping center was not universal. We hear from Steve Carr, who chairs the Central Venice Coalition. Bill Cantrell, president of the Nokomis Area Civic Association, also weighed in. They both said traffic congestion and safety remain issues that need to be addressed.
Steve Carr: My request is to postpone the action on this request for the approval of the site development plan temporarily so that city officials can work with county officials and state officials further on addressing that unresolved issue regarding safety in front of the school to see if other improvements could be made. I think the traffic study was quite comprehensive—our analysis was quite comprehensive—but, again, did not mention anything regarding that actual time for the school drop-off and pickup. It is indicated that 27,216 daily trips will be generated by the Venice Crossings project overall. 27,216 trips generated daily. That, I think, is cause for alarm when there clearly is that much traffic and even more in the current area.
Bill Cantrell
Bill Cantrell: Advancing this project through parcel-by-parcel site approvals under preliminary concept plan does not adequately address cumulative impacts, including traffic congestion, especially during school drop-off and pickup at Laurel Road. For a project of this scale and location. The community strongly believes the appropriate tool is a binding concept plan, which would establish enforceable design and infrastructure commitments, require intergovernmental coordination, provide predictability for residents, applicants and decision makers, ensure that gateway aesthetics and functional impacts are addressed holistically.
RL: This is Ramon Lopez for WSLR News.
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