Residents of the West Port area in Port Charlotte will soon have a new Publix in their neighborhood, part of a wave of development reshaping southern and eastern Charlotte County. During a May 27 land-use meeting, Charlotte County commissioners approved multiple projects, including a new shopping center anchored by Publix and two residential developments by Lennar Homes.

Campo Engineering’s final detail site plan was approved for a shopping center to be anchored by the grocery giant.

West Port Marketplace will be on approximately 14.3 acres at 1871 El Jobean Road in Murdock Village. It will include a 47,240-square-foot Publix grocery store with an attached 2,100-square-foot liquor store, along with a separate 9,800-square-foot retail building. Plans also include parking, landscaping, utility infrastructure and a stormwater management system

The project has been discussed for months by officials. They said a Publix in that area would reduce traffic on main roadways since residents living in the northwest region of the county generally drive south on U.S. 41 to reach the nearest Publix located in a heavy-traffic area on Cochran Boulevard.

Commissioners also approved the final detail site plan for engineering firm RESPEC, paving the way for Lennar Homes to build 360 townhomes on 31.41 acres at 11740 U.S. 41. The Tuckers Point Phase 1 subdivision is within the Willow Townhomes community and located between Interstate 75, with an entrance on Tuckers Grade.

Lennar also received final plat plan approval for Webbs Reserve Phase 2, a residential subdivision in eastern Charlotte County near Babcock Ranch. The 58.85-acre site will include 142 residential lots and 10 tracts. It lies south of Bermont Road and within the boundary of the Babcock Ranch Community Development of Regional Impact.