FLORENCE - Development of a shopping center anchored by a Home Depot on Radio Drive is rapidly taking shape.

Crews have been doing site preparation for the project near Florence Civic Center for about a month, and the Florence County/Municipal Planning and Building Inspection Department has received plans for more than $6 million in construction.

Plans include a $4.4 million building for the Home Depot, revised plans for a $1.2 million Longhorn Steakhouse Restaurant and plans for an $850,000 Olive Garden Restaurant.

Development of the land has been eagerly anticipated by Florence residents, but there are concerns about traffic congestion on Radio Road and at its intersection with David H. McLeod Boulevard. The restaurants, in particular, have been subject of discussion in business circles for years, especially the Olive Garden.

The land for the development was sold by General Electric Co. two years ago to Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, which also owns Magnolia Mall and the Commons at Magnolia shopping center. Home Depot plans to open its new store near the end of June.

"The target date for the grand opening is June 29," said Don Harrison, corporate spokesman for Home Depot's Southeastern stores. "Of course, you're always at the whim of the weather on a construction project, but everything is moving on schedule."

Harrison said the store would employ between 125 and 150 full-time and part-time workers.

"You can back up about six weeks from the opening, and somewhere in that time frame we'll start hiring workers," Harrison said.

Harrison said the Home Depot being built in Florence will be based on the latest generation of stores.

"The plans are for a 102,513-square-foot building, and we've found that to be the most efficient size for our stores," Harrison said. "We can get all the bells and whistles inside the walls of the store that way."

The store will feature a Design Place, which is a central location to make it easier to browse for home decorating items.

"It has everything from window treatments to flooring in one place," Harrison said. "We've found that putting all of the home decorating items in one place helps the flow of traffic in the store. It'll be where you can come in and sit down with a kitchen designer, and browse around for things."

The Olive Garden especially has been the subject of rumors in the business community for years.

Company officials last summer told the Morning News that they were looking at the Florence market, but had not settled on a location. But the planning department confirmed that construction plans have been submitted for the restaurant on Radio Road.

"We will be opening in the late summer to early fall of this year," Olive Garden spokesman Steve Coe said.

Coe said the Olive Garden will be a 7,500-square-foot restaurant with seating for 247 people.

"Plans are to staff with 125 to 150 workers, most of them part-time employees," Coe said.

Olive Garden is owned by Darden Restaurants, the owner of Red Lobster and other restaurant chains.

The planning department also confirmed that plans for the Longhorn Steakhouse, which is owned by Rare Hospitality Inc., have been submitted. Company officials did not return telephone calls from the Morning News on Tuesday.