SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve amendments to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan and pass Ordinance 9663-23 on first reading.
Body
SUMMARY:
The City established the Public Amenities Incentive Pool (Pool) in the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan when it was amended in 2004. The Pool is intended to support private sector efforts to redevelop Downtown by providing the ability to request increases in density and/or intensity in excess of the established maximum development potential when certain public amenities are incorporated into the project, thereby providing benefits to both parties and furthering the City’s goals for Downtown.
Proposed Ordinance No. 9663-23 is the first amendment to the Pool since it was established and is the first step in modifying the allocation process of units and floor area from the Pool to address previous direction from the City Council. This amendment would allow the Community Development Director to approve such allocations through the Development Review Committee (DRC) process, the details of which will be established in the Community Development Code through a separate Ordinance. Additionally, the list of eligible amenities is proposed to be expanded to encourage the construction of Class A office space in the Downtown Core and Prospect Lake Character Districts and hotel and residential rental projects throughout Downtown, as well as to support the inclusion of sustainable development technologies in new development.
The Community Redevelopment Agency will review the proposed amendments to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan at its meeting on April 17, 2023, and the Community Development Board, in its capacity as the Local Planning Agency (LPA), will review the proposed amendments to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan at its meeting on April 18, 2023. Staff will report both recommendations at the city council meeting.
The Council has the authority for the final decision on plan adoption. After local adoption, the CRA Plan will be transmitted to Forward Pinellas and the Board of County Commissioners for their consideration, which is anticipated to take place in June and July, respectively.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: N/A
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS: N/A