Eight months ago, the county commission approved a plan for 45,000 sf of commercial space and 180 multifamily apartment units. The revised plan, which is expected to be approved by the full commission on Jan. 8, increases the commercial space to 52,500 sf and reduces the number of residential units from 180 to 170.

The changes also call for eliminating a parking garage and a recreation building, and adding an open-air entrance that will allow people driving by the project along U.S. 41 to see deep in to the Mediterranean-style project, which is located on the south side of East Tamiami Trail, or US 41 Highway, at the intersection of Sandpiper Street and Davis Boulevard--the city's southernmost thoroughfare to Interstate I-75.

Kim Minarich, spokesperson for developer Jack Antaramian, tells GlobeSt.com that the additional commercial space was added to the project after the firm did an informal survey of residents in the immediate area and found that there was a large demand for retail space.