SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve a Future Land Use Map Amendment from 17 different future land use categories corridor-wide to the US 19 Regional Center (US 19-RC), US 19 Neighborhood Center (US 19-NC), US 19 Corridor (US 19-C), Preservation (P) and Water/Drainage Feature categories for property generally located along US Highway 19 between Belleair Road and Curlew Road, including properties east and west of US 19 along cross streets; and pass Ordinance 8932-16 on first reading. (LUP2016-06004, LUP2016-06005, LUP2016-06006)
Body
SUMMARY:
US Highway 19 has always served as a major commercial corridor in Clearwater. Because of its economic importance to the City and opportunities presented by the improved regional access, the City has concentrated its efforts to study and plan for the corridor, preparing for the time when the Florida Department of Transportation completed construction. Several major city plans address the need to amend City policies and codes to allow more intense development while also developing new zoning standards to encourage infill development in a pedestrian- and transit-supportive manner, including the City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan (2011), Clearwater Greenprint (2011) and the US 19 Corridor Redevelopment Plan (Corridor Plan) (2012). Additionally, the Countywide Plan for Pinellas County (Countywide Plan), a future oriented plan, identifies US Highway 19 as an appropriate location for Activity Centers at major intersections, with the remainder of the corridor being appropriate for more intense development as a Multimodal Corridor (new designations adopted into the Countywide Plan in August 2015).
The proposed amendment area includes 4,036 parcels of land (±1,641.35 acres in area). These properties are generally located along US Highway 19 between Belleair Road and Curlew Road, including properties east and west of US 19 along cross streets.
The City is initiating this amendment in order to designate the properties as US 19 Regional Center (US 19-RC), US 19 Neighborhood Center (US 19-NC), and US 19 Corridor (US 19-C) on the Future Land Use Map in order to enable the forthcoming zoning district and design standards, thereby implementing the vision in the Corridor Plan. The proposed amendment area does include areas designated as Preservation (P) and Water/Drainage Feature on the City’s Future Land Use Map. There are no proposed changes to the Preservation (P) areas, but the amount of land designated with Water/Drainage Feature would drop slightly. The proposed US 19 Regional Center (US 19-RC), US 19 Neighborhood Center (US 19-NC), and US 19 Corridor (US 19-C) designations are consistent with the Activity Center and Multimodal Corridor designations on the Countywide Plan Map.
The Planning and Development Department has determined that the proposed Future Land Use Map amendment is consistent with the Community Development Code as specified below:
• The proposed amendment is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, the Countywide Plan Rules, and the Community Development Code.
• 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 large-scale amendment so review and approval by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and other state agencies is also required.
The Community Development Board reviewed the proposed amendments at its August 16, 2016 meeting and unanimously recommended approval.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: N/A
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS: N/A