Grocery store, pharmacy may be included in center
Developer says corner of Overlook, Hypoluxo to be built on in 2 years.
Hypoluxo might see a new retail center pop up on the corner of Overlook and Hypoluxo roads in the next two years, despite some opposition from town hall.
Developer Peter McAllister has been in contact with “major retailers,” including a grocery store, drugstore and phone service company, all of whom have expressed interest in expanding to the space, he said.
However, at the May 20 town hall meeting, Hypoluxo’s Vice Mayor Mike Brown proposed the town buy the property for conservation purposes.
“I wasn’t in favor of some high-traffic business going in there that would cause an adverse effect to our Hypoluxo scrub land,” Brown said.
The property sits next to the Hypoluxo Scrub Natural Area, 97 acres set aside by the county as conservation land.
Other officials disagreed with Brown’s idea to buy the land because of the $2.4 million price tag on the property known as “Porter Place,” the cost of maintenance that would be required and the loss in potential tax revenue, according to the minutes from the May meeting.
Additionally, Council Member Brad Doyle said if the land were to be developed into a park, it wouldn’t be to the benefit of the Hypoluxo residents but rather to citizens in the surrounding area.
Though the area is zoned for commercial use, Council Member Christine Nagy argued against the property be-
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ing the site of retail stores, according to the meeting minutes.
There was talk of using the town’s reserve money to pay for the purchase.
However, Brown’s proposition for the town to contact the property seller about negotiating a lower price was denied in a 3-2 vote.
No retailers have officially signed on to lease the location.
McAllister said it will take about two years to complete the project.