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Final public hearing set on increased lodging density
By SUZETTE PORTER
Article published on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007 |
PINELLAS COUNTY – The future of the county’s tourism industry is up for discussion on Oct. 16, the date for a final public hearing on an ordinance to change density and intensity standards for temporary housing.
Supports say changes to countywide rules governing permitted density and intensity standards are needed to protect tourism and jobs and to level the economic playing field for developers of hotels versus condominiums.
Since 2000, thousands of rooms for vacationers have been lost, causing a decline in the number of people coming to Pinellas County beaches. People who work in the tourism – the No. 1 industry in the county – have lost their jobs. Less money is coming into the county’s coffers from vacationers’ spending.
The solution, supporters say, is to allow developers of temporary lodging facilities – hotels, motels, resorts – to build facilities with more rooms than currently allowed.
Dissenters argue that increased density could cause problems with infrastructure. They say more cars on already crowded roadways will be a problem. They worry about the capacity of the water and sewer systems in areas they say are already at their limits. They worry about a possible increase in crime. They question whether existing police and fire facilities can handle the load.
They worry that county government will dictate to local government how and when the new rules can be used; however, county officials stress that municipalities will have the final say on using the news rules and approving projects inside their borders. The county only will have responsibility to make decisions on specific projects in unincorporated areas.
Another concern is whether a facility that has been granted a density bonus can keep the increased number of rooms if it converts to a condominium in the future
David Healey, executive director of the Pinellas Planning Council, said work to counteract the impact condominiums were having on the county’s tourism industry started as early as the year 2000. In 2005, while working on Pinellas by Design, the density issue came to the forefront with more people becoming concerned about tourist areas becoming residential.
He said meetings had been ongoing for the past two years between the planning council, people in the tourism industry, developers and the public to find a solution.
Public hearings were scheduled on the new countywide rules in August; unfortunately, confusion reigned when two ordinances were put on the table instead of one. The board sent the plan back to the PPC with orders to work out the differences and bring back only one ordinance for consideration in October.
Healey said the new ordinance had been unanimously approved by the PPC. The new plan requires projects to be approved through the use of a developer’s agreement, but eliminates the need for county approval. He said the ordinance requires municipal agreement of a developer’s agreement, which must be filed with the county and the property appraiser’s office and memorialized on deed restrictions.
The new plan includes a requirement for tourist facilities developed under the new increased density rules to submit a plan with the county Emergency Management department for a hurricane evacuation plan.
The rules also require concurrency management and design guidelines.
“This avoids giving developers a blank check,” he said.
Madeira Beach Commissioner Steve Kochick said the proposed ordinance was essential to his city’s master plan.
“Madeira Beach is prepared and ready to move forward if this ordinance is approved,” he said.
A final public hearing on the ordinance is set for Tuesday, Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m. in the fifth floor Assembly Room of the Pinellas County Courthouse.
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Article published on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007
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