Clearwater Community Development Board Meeting – January 20, 2026
Clearwater Community Development Board Meeting – January 20, 2026
The Community Development Board (CDB) met on January 20, 2026, at 1:00 PM in the Main Library Council Chambers. The meeting covered approval of consent agenda items, two continuances for North Greenwood overlay district proposals, and a quasi-judicial appeal of a tree removal permit denial. The board voted 5-2 to grant the appeal, allowing the removal of a live oak at 1934 Marlington Way subject to conditions.
Consent Calendar
- Item 5.1 (FLD2025-07017/TDR2025-07001): Approved flexible development to add one resort attached dwelling unit at 612 Bay Esplanade, including a transfer of development rights. Added condition: a special warranty deed for the TDR must be executed and recorded before any permits are issued.
- Item 5.2 (FLD2025-08021): Approved flexible development for existing two-unit resort attached dwelling at 26 Heilwood Street.
- Item 5.3 (FLD2025-09023): Approved flexible development for conversion to a wellness clinic at 611 Druid Road E., Suites 305 and 306.
- All consent items were approved together with a single vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Tom Ryan (neighbor of the appellant) spoke in support of the tree removal appeal, stating the live oak is causing trip hazards and will damage utilities. He noted his own sidewalk is already buckling and expressed concern about safety for elderly and children. He argued the city should allow removal and replacement with more suitable trees.
Discussion Items
- Continuances (Items 4.1 & 4.2): The board approved continuations for two North Greenwood overlay proposals: a comprehensive plan amendment (CPA2025-10001) and a future land use map amendment (LUP2025-11005). Both were continued to a future meeting without discussion.
- Appeal – Tree Removal Permit Denial (APP2025-12001): The appellant, a representative of the homeowners association, appealed the city's denial of a permit to remove a healthy live oak at 1934 Marlington Way. The tree is approximately nine inches in diameter and poses future risks to sidewalks, driveways, and underground utilities. City arborist Robert Robichot testified that the tree is healthy (rated 3 or above per code) and recommended root barriers or pruning as alternatives. The appellant acknowledged he could not meet all three legal criteria to overturn the denial but argued for common sense and safety. The board deliberated on the three required findings under Community Development Code Section 4-504.B: whether the original decision misconstrued the code, whether granting the appeal would be in harmony with the code's intent, and whether it would be detrimental to public health, safety, and welfare. After discussion, board member Park made a motion to grant the appeal, citing the applicant's safety concerns and potential future damage. The motion passed 5-2.
Key Outcomes
- Appeal Granted (5-2): The board voted to overturn the tree removal permit denial with conditions: the applicant must either relocate the live oak to another location on the property or replace it with a shade tree of similar diameter. The board asked staff to prepare a list of conditions for final approval at a future meeting.
- Continuances Approved: The two North Greenwood overlay items were continued without objection.
- Next Meeting: The February 2026 meeting was rescheduled to Thursday, February 19, 2026, due to the holiday week.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. Board is called to order on January twentieth. Welcome everyone. If you please rise and join me with the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Oh, in occasion now. Sure. Okay. And make decisions in accordance with the laws of the city. Thank you for the grace and mercy in our lives. Liberty and Justice Pro. This board consists of seven members and one alternate who are appointed by the city council and serve voluntarily. I am Michael Bootskas, and I will ask the other members and the staff to introduce themselves, beginning on my left. Andy Park. Jay Daniel, attorney for the board. Rosemary Call, City Clark. Matt Minnesota, Assistant City Attorney. Ted Kozak, Clayman and Development. Lauren Matsky, Planning and Development. Diane Achinelli. Kurt Heinrichs. Michelle Chenol. Andrew Hupp. Please remember to turn off your cell phone so that they do not become a distraction during the meeting. Please also refrain from having conversations in this room so that we might hear all the testimony given today. To ensure a complete record of this board's actions, we ask that each individual wishing to speak, including the applicant, speaking to the microphone at the podium in front of us. Clearly state your name and spell your last name for the clerk. Now I will ask all those in attendance today who plan to speak to please rise and be sworn in by the clerk. Raise the right hand. Yes. Thank you. Agendas of today's meeting on the podium to your left near the entry door. Also on this podium are a roster of the community development board, the list of city staff and experts and their resumes, the board's rules of procedure, and the annual schedule of this board. Our first order of business is to review and approve the minutes from last month's meeting. May I have a motion for approval of the minutes. I make a motion to approve the minutes from last month's meeting. Do I have second? Second. Motion made and seconded. Any discussion? There being none, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Motion carries. This board has adopted. Oh, excuse me. Is there any person wishing here today wishing to address the board on matters that do not appear on today's agenda? Seeing none, we'll continue on. This board has adopted a consent agenda format and the consent items are identified as such on the agenda. Consent agenda items are those items for which the planning and development department recommends approval and the applicant is in agreement with any proposed conditions. Please note that written comments to the case that have been received to date do not result in any item being removed from the consent agenda.
openpublica.com