The Seminole City Council has voted to shut down a proposal that would have brought drone deliveries to the Bay Pines Walmart — at least for now.
The council voted 4-1 on May 12 against authorizing negotiations on an amendment to a 2013 development agreement, which would have cleared the way for a Wing drone delivery hub at the Walmart Supercenter at 10237 Bay Pines Blvd. The decision ended a process that began in April and ran through two council workshops.
CPH Consulting, representing Walmart, had asked the city to allow a drone operations area in 23 parking spaces at the southeast corner of the lot. The plan called for a 20-foot shipping container for drone storage, an 8-foot security fence, a battery-powered generator, and the capacity to handle up to 1,000 flights per day.
Wing — the Alphabet subsidiary already delivering for Walmart in the Tampa market — would have operated the drones. The aircraft weighs 11.7 pounds, carries up to 2.5 pounds of cargo, cruises at 50 mph, and serves a three-mile radius.
Vice Mayor Chris Burke moved to reject the amendment, citing “information from the city attorney.” Council member Trish Springer was the lone vote in favor, saying she trusted staff to negotiate the terms. Council members raised concerns, including drone noise and potential impacts on local wildlife, including eagles.
The vote blocks the nest but not the drones. Under Florida’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act, state law prevents cities from regulating drone flight paths, altitudes, or hours of operation. Wing could still serve Seminole addresses by flying from a hub in a neighboring jurisdiction.
In a statement issued May 15, a Wing spokesperson said the company and Walmart are expanding drone delivery to more than 270 locations nationwide, including multiple sites across Tampa Bay, and said Wing looks forward to “continuing our constructive dialogue with the Seminole City Council.” The company did not say whether it would seek an alternative Pinellas County location.
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