SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve a Future Land Use Map Amendment from the Commercial General (CG) category to the Central Business District (CBD) category for 1000 Court Street and pass Ordinance 9178-18 on first reading. (LUP2018-06004)
Body
SUMMARY:
This Future Land Use Map amendment involves a 0.360-acre property located on the northeast corner of Court Street and Ewing Avenue. The parcel is owned by Court Street Animal Hospital, Inc. and is occupied by a veterinary office. The request is to change the Future Land Use Map designation of the parcel from Commercial General (CG) to Central Business District (CBD), consistent with the remainder of the properties in the Prospect Lake Character District of Downtown. This parcel was inadvertently not advertised within Ordinance 9143-18 which amended the remainder of the Prospect Lake Character District to Central Business District (CDB); therefore, this city-initiated amendment is being processed separately. This parcel was already designated with the Downtown (D) District zoning, so a companion Zoning Atlas amendment is not needed.
The proposed Central Business District (CBD) category allows a mix of uses; however, the new Downtown District and Development Standards will dictate where specific uses can be located. The densities and intensities applicable to the Central Business District (CBD) are established within the adopted Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan. The density in the proposed amendment area is 50 dwelling units per acre. Additionally, the intensity, or floor area ratio (FAR) of the property is 1.5.
The Planning and Development Department determined that the proposed Future Land Use Map 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 property 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.
In accordance with the Countywide Plan Rules, this 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 and other state agencies is not required.
The Community Development Board will review this application at its July 17, 2018 public hearing and staff will update Council of their recommendation at the City Council meeting on July 19, 2018.