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Walmart opens in Land O' Lakes

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI

kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com

Published: November 11, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - Nearly seven years after it was proposed, a new Walmart Supercenter opened Wednesday morning near the apex of U.S. 41 and North Dale Mabry Highway.
Store officials held a ribbon-cutting at 7:30 a.m. This was the first Walmart opening in Pasco County since the company opened its Beacon Woods store last year.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. had plans for four new stores across Pasco. Beacon Woods residents fought the proposed store at U.S. 19 and Beacon Woods Drive, but lost.

Holiday residents were more successful, beating back plans for a store at Grand Boulevard and State Road 54.

A third Walmart in Wesley Chapel failed to get off the ground after the collapse of the housing market cut the legs from under Pulte Home Corp.'s plans to develop thousands of acres in Wiregrass Ranch. Plans for that store remain on the shelf for now, Wal-Mart officials have said.

The Land O' Lakes store took years to navigate the development process because company and county officials had to strike a deal with CSX for permission to cross its railroad line, which parallels U.S. 41 through Pasco.

Under the three-way deal, CSX agreed to a crossing, and Pasco County delegated to Wal-Mart the responsibility for maintaining it. An automatic gate closes when trains approach the crossing.

The new superstore replaces an aging Walmart in nearby Village Lakes Shopping Center. That store closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 731-8168.

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