MURDOCK — Developers got past another hurdle with plans for the Harbor Village commercial and residential development in West County this week.
The Charlotte County Planning and Zoning Advisory Board on Monday approved the developer’s request to vacate two dirt roads off McCall Road in preparation for the first phase of the development with 2,000 housing units.
The property is at State Road 776 and Gasparilla Road, across from the Gulf Cove Publix shopping center.
The full project of 1,174 acres is authorized for up to 1 million square feet of commercial space and 3,475 units of housing, which is 485 less than in 2009. But there is no specific plan for that yet.
The owners, named 2008 Florida Recovery Limited Partnership, received a unanimous recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Advisory Board on Monday, before the request goes to county commissioners for approval.
One Planning Board member said his vote was reluctant.
“The ship’s already sailed on this particular project,” Advisory Board member Robert Segur said.
Segur was alluding to the fact the development parameters were legally approved long ago by earlier commissions as well as the current County Commission in 2025.
“The reality is this is one of the last areas in West County that could have been utilized for any wildlife habitat, and once it’s gone there’s going to be nothing left over there,” he said.
He called it “most unfortunate.”
“When you look at the original documents on this, this original plat was for the town of McCall, it goes back so far which puts in around the turn of the century or shortly thereafter,” Segur said. “I am disappointed that this is particular property is going down this road.”
County staff, according to internal memorandum, struggled at first with the request to vacate sections Foxglove Lane and Oxbow Street, worrying about landlocking future lots and also, affecting 911 access. But Planning Director Shaun Cullinan said the issues have been worked out.
Foxglove was never built and Oxbow is barely passable. The potential lots affected are part of the development, he said.
The project, also on Gasparilla Road, began around 2009 and was larger with far more commercial space anticipated as well as more housing. It was to be called West County Town Center.
Economic realities have changed the landscape. Updating a 2022 update, the 2025 commission approval was for the first phase of 840 acres with up to 2,000 housing units, a 376,600-square-foot shopping center, 200 hotel rooms, 200,000 square feet of office space, and 400,000 square feet of light industry. A matrix allows the developer to swap out so many feet of one for another.
While no residents attended this brief hearing Monday, many have spoken against the project in recent years. Many fear new docks will interfere with the canals in the area.
The staff report on wildlife in the area states: “An active multi-species breeding wading bird colony was observed within the project boundary. Little blue herons, tricolored herons, snowy egrets and yellow-crowned night herons were all observed breeding in the site. Roseate spoonbills were observed in the area and could have active nests as well.”
Later, staff report states: “Following permitting guidelines, no effect on listed wading birds or their nesting activities is expected in association with the project.”