TARPON SPRINGS - The Wal-Mart saga drags on.
Because this week's Planning and Zoning Board meeting barely made it out of the starting blocks, city commissioners next month will have less than 24 hours to consider that board's recommendation before making a decision.
This week's meeting didn't come close to producing that recommendation. About 90 people showed up; 35 signed up to speak; one got to the podium. So they'll try again Oct. 20 - one day before the City Commission is supposed to decide whether to approve the changes in Wal-Mart's site plans.
It didn't take long for Monday's meeting to unravel.
As soon as it started at 7 p.m., the board called a 10-minute recess to read a last-minute memo from the city attorney. Then Wal-Mart attorney David Theriaque asked two members to recuse themselves because they'd spoken publicly against the project.
Next, the board decided to adjourn at 11 p.m. and reconvene next month. Then Theriaque asked for another recusal.
The crowd erupted and started yelling at Theriaque.
It was nearly 8 p.m. and neither Wal-Mart nor its opposition had begun to make their case.
By the end of the meeting, the board had heard presentations on Wal-Mart's site plan for a 203,000-square-foot supercenter on the banks of the Anclote River, but there was little time left for public comment.
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