SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve a Future Land Use Map Amendment from the Residential Urban (RU) category to the Institutional (I) category for portions of property located at 110 N. McMullen Booth Road and pass Ordinance 9594-22 on first reading. (LUP2022-06005)
Body
SUMMARY:
This Future Land Use Map Amendment involves a 0.891-acre portion of a 41.016-acre property located generally on the southwest corner of Drew Street and McMullen Booth Road. The amendment areas are located generally between Cleveland Street and Cherry Lane on the west side of McMullen Booth Road, and at the western terminus of Cleveland Street. The applicant, First Baptist Church of Clearwater, Inc., is requesting to amend the future land use category of the amendment areas from Residential Urban (RU) to Institutional (I). The applicant has submitted a Zoning Atlas amendment which is being processed concurrently with this case (REZ2022-06005).
The property is currently developed with the Calvary Church and Calvary Christian High School as well as the high school’s athletic fields with parking interspersed between all the uses. The existing Residential Urban (RU) future land use category on the amendment areas are remnants from when the church purchased the properties as their previous uses were detached dwellings. Throughout the years, the church has assembled additional properties in the area and has also gone through the Future Land Use Map Amendment process to amend those properties to Institutional (I). The Residential Urban (RU) category has a maximum density of 7.5 dwelling units per acre and a maximum floor area ratio (FAR) of 0.40. The Institutional (I) category has a maximum density of 12.5 dwelling units per acre and a maximum floor area ratio (FAR) of 0.65. The proposed amendment would allow the property to have one consistent future land use category of Institutional (I). The applicant currently has a building permit in review for a revised parking lot and associated stormwater facilities, and the proposed amendment would allow for a more cohesive parking plan.
The Planning and Development Department has determined that the proposed future land use amendment is consistent with the provisions of the Clearwater Community Development Code as specified below:
• The proposed amendment is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and the Countywide Plan Rules.
• The proposed amendment is compatible with the surrounding properties and character of the neighborhood.
• Sufficient public facilities are available to serve the property.
• The proposed amendment will not have an adverse impact on the natural environment.
• The proposed amendment will not have an adverse impact on the use of property in the immediate area.
The proposed City of Clearwater future land use category of Institutional (I) will necessitate an amendment of the Countywide Plan Map from the Residential Low Medium (RLM) category to the Public/Semi-Public (P/SP) category. In accordance with the Countywide Plan Rules, the land use plan amendment is subject to the approval of Forward Pinellas, in its role as the Pinellas Planning Council, and the Board of County Commissioners acting as the Countywide Planning Authority. The application is a small-scale amendment so review and approval by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is not required.
The Community Development Board reviewed this application at its August 16, 2022 public hearing and made a unanimous recommendation of approval to the Council.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: N/A
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS: N/A