Tractor Supply Company one step closer

The Apopka Planning Commission voted 6-0 on Tuesday to approve a preliminary development plan for a new Tractor Supply Company (TSC) which would be located at 180 West 1st Street in Apopka. The proposed plan is for a 19,000 square-foot store that sits on 3.9 acres. The proposal goes before the City Council on November 2nd.

Representatives from TSC gave a presentation to the commission and outlined the company's history, goals, and values.

Tractor Supply Company is the largest operator of rural lifestyle retail stores in the United States. The company operates over 1,500 retail stores in 49 states, employs more than 23,000 and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee. Its stock is traded on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol "TSCO". The company was founded in 1938 as a mail order catalog business offering tractor parts to America's family farmers. Today Tractor Supply is a leading edge retailer with annual revenues of approximately $6.2 billion.

Paul Faircloth, the former owner of Mosquito Creek, was sworn-in as an affected party because he owns property adjacent to the subject property. In his statement to the commission, he stressed how important TSC could be for Apopka.

"This will be a huge catalyst for growth in Apopka," he said. "We've not had that one spark. Once they know Apopka is open for business... this is that first big spark. If we get this going. If we get the City Center going. Now we have something to talk about. Let this project be the catalyst for the area."

The commission approved two other projects - with a 5-1 vote it approved a 1,933 square foot medical office, and a 6,896 square foot inpatient rehabilitation and residential facility for up to 40 patients. It also voted 6-0 to approve the Silver Oaks subdivision project which includes 182 single family residential units.

Because of Election Day, The Planning Commission moved its next meeting from Tuesday, November 8th to Monday, November 15th at 5:30PM.