CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla.  The Diocese of St. Petersburg turned down a $120,000 offer for an 80-foot strip of land next to St. Benedict Catholic Church that would be used for an access road for a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter.
The St. Petersburg Times reported the diocese acted according to the wishes of St. Benedict parishioners, who are concerned about traffic and noise from the project.
In June, more than 500 members of St. Benedict signed a petition opposing the land sale to commercial developer RealtiCorp. The road is needed to meet the county's access management plan, which dictates area traffic flow.
RealtiCorp representative Robert Smith called the opposition shortsighted, but diocese officials said they were concerned parishioners would leave the church.
RealtiCorp has asked the Crystal River to annex the land. If that occurs, the City Council would be responsible for deciding whether RealtiCorp's plans meet county land development code. The city would also receive a tax windfall for taking in more than 400 acres of commercial development.
