SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve amendments to the Clearwater Comprehensive Plan to support the implementation of the US 19 Corridor Redevelopment Plan and new US 19 future land use categories, establish criteria for plan amendments in the Coastal Storm Area, and update various terms and references; and pass Ordinance 8923-16 on first reading. (CPA2016-04001)
Body
SUMMARY:
This proposed ordinance contains numerous amendments to the goals, objectives and policies of the Future Land Use Element of the Clearwater Comprehensive Plan. Many of the proposed amendments are proposed to address the implementation of several city plans, including the Economic Development Strategic Plan (2011), Clearwater Greenprint (2011), and the US 19 Corridor Redevelopment Plan (2012). Additionally, several proposed amendments address changes within the new Countywide Plan for Pinellas County (Countywide Plan) which was adopted by the Countywide Planning Authority in August 2015. The updated Countywide Plan established 16 Countywide Plan Map categories, while the previous Plan contained 36, and also designated areas along US Highway 19 as Activity Center or Multimodal Corridor on the Countywide Plan Map, consistent with the Corridor Plan.
US 19 Corridor Redevelopment Plan (Corridor Plan) Related Amendments
The proposed amendments include the creation of new US 19 Regional Center, US 19 Neighborhood Center and US 19 Corridor future land use categories and zoning districts, and establishes the corresponding floor area ratio (FAR) standards for the future land use categories, all consistent with the Corridor Plan. These changes are depicted on a new Future Land Use Table A-1, which is proposed to replace the existing table in the Element. This table identifies the City of Clearwater land use categories and each category’s primary uses and maximum density/intensity.
Ordinance 8923-16 also includes a new policy restricting residential density for those properties within the Coastal Storm Area along US Highway 19 to that which is already permitted, as well as a new Map A-16 (Future Land Uses Within CSA, US 19 Redevelopment Area) depicting what areas are affected and what those residential densities shall remain. Changes within the citywide design structure pertaining to US Highway 19 are proposed in order to recognize completed work and to further support the implementation of the Corridor Plan. This includes a proposed new policy encouraging the establishment of design standards as envisioned within the Corridor Plan, as well as updates to Maps A-13 (Activity Centers) and A-14 (Citywide Design Structure). Additionally, a new policy is proposed which would allow the appropriate US 19 future land use category to be assigned to parcels that annex within the US 19 Corridor Redevelopment Area, which is depicted on proposed Map A-17 (US 19 Corridor Redevelopment Area).
Countywide Plan for Pinellas County Consistency Amendments
In addition to minor amendments updating references to the Countywide Plan for Pinellas County, and changing other small references consistent with new language in the Countywide Plan, a new policy is proposed to adopt "balancing criteria" against which the City may evaluate amendments proposing increases in permanent population within the coastal storm areas. These criteria are included in the new Countywide Rules, and adopting them locally would provide the City with more discretion at the local level in evaluating proposed changes within the coastal storm area. Proposed Future Land Use Table A-1 includes a new Target Employment Center Overlay (TEC) category, which will enable the City to designate industrial areas in the future to allow a 100% increase in development potential (FAR) for manufacturing, office, and research/development uses. A new Table A-2 is proposed which identifies the consistent Countywide Plan Map categories/subcategories as well as the consistent city zoning districts for each City future land use category.
In addition to the above, staff is also proposing the following:
• Replacing footnotes to the existing Future Land Use Table pertaining to transit oriented development (TOD) and FAR bonus provisions for hospital uses with new policies addressing the same;
• Creating a new policy addressing residential equivalent uses and beds per dwelling unit allowance;
• Adding a policy emphasizing preservation of the character of North Clearwater Beach, recognizing that it is a residential area on Clearwater Beach which is otherwise primarily tourist oriented; and
• Making minor changes to update references or correct small errors.
The Community Development Board (CDB) reviewed the proposed amendment at its meeting on August 16, 2016 and unanimously recommended the amendment for approval.
As this is a text amendment to the Clearwater Comprehensive Plan, review and approval by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is required. As part of the state review, the proposed amendments will be transmitted to the various State agencies and Pinellas County for review prior to second reading (adoption) by City Council, which is anticipated to occur in December.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: N/A
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS: N/A