CRESTVIEW — Plans for a shopping center proposed for a site west of State Road 85 next to the Lowe's home improvement store continue to move slowly forward.
Developers hope to break ground on the project, called the Crestview Power Center, at the beginning of 2014, Public Works Director Wayne Steele said during Monday’s city council meeting.
Rain has delayed a new site survey that will provide city leaders and project partners with more exact boundaries for the project's components such as retail stores and restaurants.
"They are finalizing the new boundary," Steele said.
While developers with the Watkins Group have not disclosed which chains will occupy the Power Center, a site plan presented to the council labeled one freestanding restaurant "Red Lobster."
Developers have repeatedly said that major national chain stores and eateries have expressed interest in the project.
Bob Peck of the Watkins Group was in Crestview this week and told Steele meetings with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Transportation have necessitated adjusting the Power Center master plan to relocate some of the planned buildings.
Developers will provide the city with the site plans it needs to construct the project's new sewer line "as soon as possible," Steele said.
"It seems to me they are moving forward and he (Peck) seemed very upbeat and positive," Steele said. "They are planning on breaking ground on the first of 2014."
During Monday night's City Council meeting, Council President Robyn Helt said developers "have not yet made application (for impact fee waivers) with the city; therefore there is no action for the city to be taking in relation to that project at this time."
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview shopping mall’s groundbreaking could be in 2014