New Chase Bank Construction Could Start Soon in Largo

Construction could soon begin on a Chase Bank at the corner of West Bay Drive and Clearwater-Largo Road, pending city leader approval of the site plans, according to officials.

"The applicant just submitted the official site plans to our office, allowing us to revisit the project and make sure everything is in compliance according to code," said Jesus Nino, the city's principal planner, this week. "If everything is good they should be able to start working on it by the middle of May."

Nino added he did not have a time frame for the completion of the project.

The Largo City Commission approved the plan to build the bank at 801 West Bay Dr. in early February despite the fact that some commissioners expressed reservations about the project. 

“I just think something else could have gone on that corner instead of a bank in front of another bank," Commissioner Harriet Crozier said at a Feb. 5 commission meeting.

Commissioner Curtis Holmes worried about drive-through bank users creating more accidents exiting onto Clearwater-Largo Road.

“How many of those people are going to try to turn left onto Clearwater-Largo Road?” Holmes asked. 

A local realtor also expressed displeasure with the project in a blog post she wrote on Largo Patch.

"My real estate office is located in the 801 West Bay building, which the parking lot is the planned site for this location of the recently approved Chase Bank," Becky Paone wrote.

"About 1/3 of the parking lot will be usurped by the proposed Chase building," she said. "I believe there are better suited sites than this proposed corner."

In spite of the objections, construction is set to begin pending the final approval of the plans.

Largo residents, how do you feel about the new Chase Bank on West Bay Drive? Let us know in the comments below.

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