The expansion will add two facilities to the west Lakeland warehouse on County Line Road:
- A 403,871-square-foot produce warehouse with truck loading bays on both sides
- A 63,022-square-foot return center to process and recycle merchandise
Lakeland officials approved an updated site plan for the location on Oct. 27. The approval came with conditions involving stormwater management, floodplain protections, and pedestrian access along Allen K. Breed Highway, according to the city’s review documents.
Expanding a major distribution hub
In October 2023, Publix purchased 137.6 acres formerly occupied by Key Safety Systems, an automotive supplier, for $8.25 million.
Lakeland commissioners unanimously approved the expansion in February 2024, incorporating the newly acquired property into a distribution campus encompassing approximately 406 acres.
Gray Construction Inc. of Kentucky is listed as the produce center’s general contractor. City permits put the value at approximately $200 million: $159 million for the produce warehouse, $17.5 million for the return center, and $23.5 million for site work.
LkldNow reached out to Publix regarding the expected completion date and how many new positions the expansion may create but a spokesperson said she had no information to share at this early stage.
Managing traffic and flood risks
Among the conditions attached to the project are safeguards for flood-prone areas, including requirements for construction sequencing, stormwater storage, and drainage improvements…