A Beaufort zoning board today will hear an appeal of the city’s February decision that blocks Wal-Mart from building a 195,000-square-foot store on Lady’s Island.

Wal-Mart’s plans, filed with the city Jan. 18, were rejected Feb. 11 because Beaufort planning director Libby Anderson said the development differed too greatly from the site’s master plan, which was filed with the city when the property was annexed in 2003.

But the appeal, filed by Larry Barthelemy of Hanahan-based ADC Engineering, contends that the site plan for the Wal-Mart meets the city’s zoning standards for the property near the intersection of Sea Island Parkway and Airport Circle.

The city’s Zoning Board of Appeals will hear today’s appeal. If rejected, Wal-Mart could appeal that decision in Circuit Court. Wal-Mart’s appeal did not explain why it believes the store complies with the site’s zoning.

Patrick Moore, director of the Beaufort office of the environmental watchdog Coastal Conservation League, said the group plans to attend today’s meeting in support of the city’s decision.

“We think it’s pretty clear it’s not compliant,” he said of Wal-Mart’s plans.

The unveiling of Wal-Mart’s plans in January sparked protests from residents who said Lady’s Island wouldn’t be able to handle the additional traffic the store would bring and business owners who said the big-box retailer would put their small shops out of business.

The master plan for the Airport Circle site projected there would be 21 buildings, with the largest building comprising 71,000 square feet.

In addition to Wal-Mart, the proposed site plan includes two retailers comprising 10,000 square feet as well a fast-food restaurant with a drive-through window on a 40.8-acre wooded property called Airport Junction.

The property is zoned to allow 250,000 square feet of commercial space plus an additional 340,000 square feet that can be used for light industrial or commercial activity.

The zoning also allows for 24 residential units upstairs from commercial space.