Third Starbucks may be on its way to Indian River County

By ED BIERSCHENK ed.bierschenk@scripps.com August 10, 2006INDIAN RIVER COUNTY —

Another Starbucks is on the drawing board as part of a proposed development along Oslo Road — raising the possibility there could be as many as three of the popular coffee shops in the Vero Beach area in the near future. Developer Jerry Swanson said there have been talks with Seattle- based Starbucks Corp. about locating a shop at the retail, office, restaurant complex he wants to build at the southwest corner of 27th Avenue and Oslo Road.

Late last year, Starbucks submitted plans to build a store on the northwest corner of 12th Street and U.S. 1 and there has been speculation a Starbucks might be the coffee vendor planned at an expanded Target store on 20th Street. Plans for that expansion don't name Starbucks, but the two companies have a 6-year-old agreement to put a Starbucks in some renovated Targets and every new SuperTarget.

Swanson's site plan for his P&S Office development initially showed a Starbucks in a separate building at the site. The plan was reviewed at the Indian River County Technical Review Committee meeting Wednesday.

Swanson, however, decided to scuttle the idea of constructing a separate building for Starbucks when traffic concerns were raised at the meeting about having a drive-through there.

Instead, Swanson said he will see if Starbucks might be interested in moving into part of the main two-story, 44,000- square-foot building planned for the location.

Swanson said prior to the meeting he wants construction to begin by December and be completed by December 2007. That may not be possible, however, because the county is requiring 27th Avenue to be widened before any new development goes into that area.

Developer Mark Brackett already has agreed to pay for widening of a part of 27th Avenue between Fifth Street Southwest and 13th Street Southwest to handle extra traffic generated by his proposed Turtle Creek Preserve development.

According to Indian River County Assistant Public Works Director Chris Mora, another half-mile section between southwest 13th and 17th streets would have to be widened to four lanes to allow for Swanson's development. He estimated it could cost about $3 million to $4 million.

Swanson initially was under the impression this area was slated for widening under the county's five-year capital works program, but that is not the case.

He indicated it would be too expensive for him to widen the road on his own given the size and type of development he is building.

Mora and Indian River County Community Development Director Bob Keating said Swanson could wait another year, at which time the county could add the widening of the road, south to the county line, to its five-year plan.

They said another option would be for Swanson to pay for the widening along with other developers seeking to build in that area.


source: TCPalm.com