Walmart Protestors Restart Road Rallies

They may have lost the first round, but residents who protest a proposed Walmart at Floyd Road aren't going out without a fight.

The 813CARe organization resumed road rallies this week at the corner of Floyd Road and Dale Mabry Highway. The series of road rallies will lead up to the land use hearing on Dec. 11 where Hillsborough County Commissioners will cast their final vote on whether or not to rezone 10-acres of land at the northwest corner of Floyd Road and Dale Mabry Highway.

The development would consist of an approximately 48,000-square-foot Walmart neighborhood grocery and a 6,000-square-foot WaWa convenience store with gas pumps.

Despite more than 200 people showing up for a land use hearing meeting in October, the proposal was recommended for approval Hillsborough Hearing Master Steve Luce.

The proposed zoning must now go before the county commissioners for a final vote at their Dec. 11 meeting.

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Organizers for 813CARe say they are going to continue road rallies leading up to that meeting as well as make phone calls to supporters and circulating fliers asking residents to voice their opposition to commissioners.

"(The) County Commissioners should hopefully take a bit more stock in what their citizens’ have to say," said Leah Wooten 813CARe organizer. "When they hear from their office the level of opposition that has called in and, I hope, see the overwhelming turn out for the meeting and factor that in with what we think are logical reasons for voting against the application – we think we can win."

If You Go:

Road rallies will run from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at the corner of Floyd Road and Dale Mabry Highway on the following dates: Wednesday, Nov. 28; Monday, Dec. 3, Wednesday, Dec. 5 and Monday, Dec. 10.