New Walmart Coming to Missouri Avenue in Largo

Walmart plans to build a new supercenter across the street from its existing location on Missouri Avenue North.

The current K-Mart building will be razed and replaced with a new, larger Walmart store, which will offer grocery, deli, garden, pharmacy and retail merchandise, according to Walmart spokesman Glen Wilkins.

The proposed new Walmart will be 123,000 square feet, while the current Walmart across the street is 108,000 square feet. The existing K-Mart is actually slightly larger, at 125,000 square feet, but efficiencies with backroom operations, delivery and smaller packaging will allow the retailer to get more merchandise in less space, Wilkins said.

Neighbors packed the Community Room at Largo City Hall on Sept. 25 to learn about the planned store and ask questions. Lighting, storm water drainage, traffic and noise were some of the concerns expressed.

"How are you going to deal with the beep, beep, beep, bong, when trucks back up?" asked one stay-at-home mom.

Although Wilkins did not know the set schedule for deliveries yet, he said there would be a 20-foot buffer for sound, including green space. He also said the trucks do not idle at the store, but drop off the load, pick up another trailer and leave.

The stormwater drainage at the new store will be treated and stored on site through a mixture of green space and underground storage for water, Walmart representatives said.

The new store will have two access points off of Missouri and two off of Rosery, although the locations may be slightly adjusted. The parking lot will have 18 percent green space compared to the current lot's five percent of green space. There will be trees, shrubbery and pedestrian access walks, according to company representatives.

Walmart is moving because its lease is up at the current location. Plus, the retailer wanted to provide more services its customers request including a full grocery store, Wilkins said.

The new Walmart project at 1000 Missouri Ave. N., does not include the nearby Burger King or closed gas station. Those parcels are owned by other parties, Walmart representatives said.

Any time a new development comes to Largo, near a residential area, a neighborhood compatibility meeting is held so neighbors can learn about plans, ask questions, and voice concerns, said Largo Planner Thomas Wojtki.