After being rejected three years ago by Clermont, FL city council for a 250,000-sf Supercenter, the retailer and the developer resubmitted plans for a 218,000-sf structure that was finally accepted last week in a close 3-2 vote by elected officials. Council members had to bend the city's rules on the 100,000-sf cap for big-box retail projects.

Wal-Mart plans to break ground by year end on an estimated $21 million building, local construction industry estimators tell GlobeSt.com. The store will be part of the 423-acre Lost Lake Reserve subdivision Westshore is developing, scheduled to have 66 acres of commercial and office; 600 apartments; and 508 single-family homes. The site is south of state Road 50 and east of U.S. 27, about 25 miles west of Downtown Orlando.

Wal-Mart's bureaucratic victory comes as rival Target Inc. plans a March 9 debut for its 175,000-sf Supertarget store in the Clermont market, which has evolved into the hottest commercial development hub in Central Florida over the past five years. Home Depot Inc. opened its 125,000-sf retail and garden center Jan. 23 on State Road 50 in Clermont.