A Publication of the Pinellas Planning Council
FALL 2007
In This Issue... • PPC Looks Ahead to the New Year • Legislative and Judicial Actions Bring Changes • Upcoming Hearing and Meeting Schedule
PPC Looks Ahead to the New Year
The Council considers a countywide planning decision during a recent public hearing. As the Pinellas Planning Council (PPC) heads into Fiscal Year 2007-08, it has a full work program of both new and continuing projects. The coming year will bring a number of changes, as new state legislation and other factors affect the planning environment in Pinellas County, creating both challenges and opportunities. The following sections summarize various projects in the current work program:
Temporary Lodging Ordinance. As reported in the Fall 2006 newsletter, the PPC has been working to address real estate factors that have led to the loss of many hotel and motel units to residential condominium development, significantly decreasing the ability of the local tourism industry to attract visitors. After several PPC and Countywide Planning Authority (CPA) workshops that included input from the public, an ordinance was crafted that will amend the Countywide Rules to permit each local government to consider increased density for temporary lodging units. This change will allow hotels and motels to be more financially competitive with other land uses, providing an incentive for investment in new or expanded temporary lodging use. The ordinance was adopted by the PPC in September 2007 and by the CPA in October.
Industrial Land Study. A major goal of the Pinellas by Design effort is to encourage the attraction and retention of target industries that provide high-wage jobs, such as those in the computer, biomedical, and financial services fields. As reported in the Fall 2006 newsletter, the PPC has been engaged in a study of land use factors that affect the ability of these employers to locate and remain in the county, with a focus on the supply of and demand for industrially-designated land. Major findings and recommendations will be presented to the Council and considered for incorporation into the Countywide Rules by early 2008.
EAR-Based Amendments. The PPC is assisting local governments in Pinellas County in preparing their Evaluation and Appraisal Report(EAR)-based amendments, part of the state-mandated comprehensive planning process. Direct assistance with creating the document is being provided to eight communities that have contracted with the PPC.
Other local governments can access an online data library that includes step-by-step guidance for updating each element of the plan. PPC staff are also available to answer technical questions about the process. All communities are anticipated to have completed their EAR-based amendments by early 2009.
Consistency. As reported in the Spring 2007 newsletter, the PPC is updating its efforts to bring local government plans and codes into harmony with the Countywide Rules. After completing a report entitled Review of Local Government Future Land Use Plans and Land Development Regulations for Consistency with the Countywide Rules, PPC staff have begun to discuss recommended changes with each community, in coordination with the EAR-based amendment cycle. The target date for completion of this project is mid-2008.
Scenic Non-Commercial Corridor Study. In 1995, the PPC and CPA adopted the Countywide Scenic Non-Commercial Corridor (SNCC) Plan Element of the Countywide Plan, which established goals, objectives, and policies to protect and enhance the scenic qualities of designated roadways. Since publication of that report, however, a number of the original SNCCs have been expanded or reconfigured, altering their character. PPC staff is conducting a new study, using Curlew Road as a pilot corridor, to develop updated recommendations and guidelines to govern these corridors in the future. The study is expected to be completed by mid-2008.
The PPC is exploring advanced mapping software such as MultiVision, which displays aerial views of buildings from different angles and creates 3D models. Tropicana Field is shown in the photo. Enhanced Technology. Through its relationship with the Pinellas County Property Appraiser’s Office, the PPC is in the process of enhancing its geographic information system (GIS) capabilities. This technology will allow PPC staff to perform more sophisticated data analysis and mapping functions, in formats that can be shared with local governments and the public. It will be useful in supplementing and interpreting the Countywide Plan and Rules, the Pinellas by Design plan, and local regulatory provisions. This project will be ongoing throughout the fiscal year.
The PPC looks forward to another year of fulfilling its mission, by providing a representative forum for countywide planning, encouraging intergovernmental coordination, and providing technical assistance to its member local governments.
Legislative and Judicial Actions Bring Changes
The 2007 session of the State Legislature, together with a recent state appeals court decision, have brought changes to the way in which Pinellas County local governments will plan for their communities in the future.
House Bill 7203. On July 1, 2007, new legislation created by House Bill 7203 took effect. Among other provisions, it created a pilot program establishing a streamlined process for comprehensive plan amendments for certain communities, including Pinellas County and its municipalities. After two decades of “one size fits all” statewide growth management, this legislation is an acknowledgment that the needs and resources of urban areas are different than other parts of the state, and that reduced state oversight of local comprehensive planning is justified for some local governments.
After analysis of the new legislation, the PPC has concluded that no change to its review of Countywide Future Land Use Plan Map amendments will be needed. However, modification of local processes may be required, and there are changes to other comprehensive planning requirements that may affect local governments. A more detailed analysis of the bill has been prepared by PPC staff, and is available on our web site.
Coastal Storm Area. Recent state legislation has changed the definition of the Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA) and created level-of-service standards for regional hurricane evacuation. As applied to Pinellas County, the new CHHA definition covers significantly less land area than previously, and excludes portions of the barrier islands. If left unaddressed, this change could permit higher-density redevelopment in areas vulnerable to hurricanes.
The Pinellas County Planning Department has worked with the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and PPC to draft comprehensive plan policies that address this issue. The policies, currently under review by the PPC, propose creating an alternative “Coastal Storm Area” designation that would protect a larger area than that encompassed by the new CHHA definition. The ultimate goal is to incorporate relevant provisions into the Countywide Rules, in order to limit density increases in hurricane-vulnerable areas.
Ordinance No. 00-63. In September 2007, a state appeals court released a decision invalidating Pinellas County Ordinance No. 00-63. Approved by voters in a November 2000 referendum, the ordinance replaced certain state laws governing voluntary annexation with local procedures that were intended to encourage better planning. Chief among the provisions was a set of boundaries delineating unincorporated areas eligible for annexation by specific municipalities.
The court affirmed that Pinellas County has the authority to create its own voluntary annexation procedures, but stated that they must be written into the county charter, which was not part of the original referendum. Therefore, Ordinance No. 00-63 is no longer in effect. The PPC will be coordinating with local governments and the CPA to determine appropriate next steps for addressing this issue.
These changes, and other legislative or judicial developments that may follow in the future, could significantly affect planning at the local government level. They underscore the benefits of having a strong countywide planning framework, so that communities can share information and work together to respond to new challenges and opportunities.
Upcoming Public Hearing and Meeting Schedule
Planners Advisory
CommitteePinellas Planning
CouncilCountywide Planning
Authority
• November 26, 2007 • January 7, 2008 • February 11, 2008 • March 10, 2008
• December 5, 2007 • January 16, 2008 • February 20, 2008 • March 19, 2008
• December 18, 2007 • February 5, 2008 • March 11, 2008 • April 8, 2008
The Pinellas Planning Council
• Vice-Mayor Sandra Bradbury, Chairman (Pinellas Park) • Mayor Robert Hackworth, Vice-Chairman (Dunedin) • Mayor Beverley Billiris, Treasurer (Tarpon Springs) • Vice-Mayor Jerry Knight, Secretary (Group B Communities: Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, North Redington Beach*, Redington Beach, Redington Shores) • Vice-Mayor John Doran (Clearwater) • Councilmember Bill Foster (St. Petersburg) • Mayor Patricia Gerard (Largo) • Mayor Dick Holmes (Group C Communities: Belleair, Belleair Bluffs, Gulfport, Kenneth City, Seminole, South Pasadena*) • School Board Member Linda Lerner (Pinellas County School District) • Mayor Mary Maloof (Group A Communities: Madeira Beach, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island*) • Commissioner John Morroni (Pinellas County) • Mayor Jim Ronecker (Oldsmar) • Mayor Andy Steingold (Safety Harbor) * Councilmember serves on this governing body
The Countywide Planning Authority
- Commissioner Ronnie E. Duncan, Chairman
- Commissioner Robert B. Stewart, Vice-Chairman
- Commissioner Calvin D. Harris, Ed.D
- Commissioner Susan Latvala
- Commissioner John Morroni
- Commissioner Karen Williams Seel
- Commissioner Kenneth T. Welch
The Pinellas Planning Council Staff
- David P. Healey, Executive Director
- Ryan A. Brinson, Planner
- Michael C. Crawford, Planning Manager
- Dolly Eylward, Office Manager
- Linda Fisher, Program Planner
- Katherine Holt, Office Specialist
- Chris Mettler, Program Planner
- Larry S. Pflueger, Principal Planner
- Michael Schoderbock, Program Planner
- Carolyn Shoemaker, Administrative Secretary
If you have any questions or comments about this newsletter, please feel free to email us, call us at 727-464-8250, or write to us at:
Pinellas Planning Council
600 Cleveland Street, Suite 850
Clearwater, FL 33755-4160
