Clearwater Community Development Board Meeting - June 16, 2026
Clearwater Community Development Board Meeting - June 16, 2026
The Clearwater Community Development Board (CDB) met on June 16, 2026 at 1:00 PM in the Main Library Council Chambers. The board approved a consent item and, after extended discussion, approved a flexible development request for an outdoor amenity area at the Wyndham Grand hotel. The board also appointed a member to the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and received updates on board activities.
Consent Calendar
- FLD2026-01003 – Approved as part of the consent agenda: Flexible Development for light assembly and retail sales/services at 1425–1477 S. Ft. Harrison Avenue and conversion to non-residential off-street parking at 514 Belleview Boulevard. The motion passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Alex Stein – Raised personal grievances regarding his family situation and criticized the Church of Scientology, urging the city to take action against the organization.
- Bill Johnson – Spoke about stickers and graffiti on Clearwater Beach, noting that a volunteer program has made progress but that some stickers remain difficult to remove, and requested city assistance.
Discussion Items
- FLD2008-05013A – Flexible Development request for an outdoor amenity area (seating, mobile vending carts for food and beverages) accessory to the Wyndham Grand hotel at 100 Coronado Drive. The project required approval because the amenity area would be located on city-owned land zoned Open Space/Recreation (OSR) and Tourist (T), and would modify a previously approved landscape plan. Key points discussed:
- Staff clarified that the license agreement for use of city property is separate from the CDB approval and does not require board action.
- The proposed amenity area would not involve on-site food preparation; food would be prepared in the hotel and held in warming units.
- A condition of approval (No. 14) prohibits outside food preparation.
- The board discussed the boundary of the licensed area; originally misdrawn on plans, it would follow the existing sea grape hedge and not extend beyond the beachwalk sidewalk.
- Public commenter Bill Johnson raised concerns about the OSR zoning and charter requirements for change of use; board attorney clarified that a revocable license does not constitute a transfer of interest requiring a referendum.
- The board debated whether the approval sets a precedent for alcohol sales on city property; staff explained that each application is reviewed individually against code criteria.
Key Outcomes
- Approved FLD2008-05013A – The board voted 6–1 to approve the flexible development with an added condition that the licensed area boundary be limited to the area west, north, and south of the existing beachwalk sidewalk. The motion carried.
- Appointed Michelle Chenault – The board appointed Michelle Chenault to serve as the CDB’s representative on the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC), which meets on select Tuesdays (Aug 11, Sep 8, Oct 13, Nov 17).
- Director’s Report – Staff provided updates on the North Greenwood CRA plan (community meeting on June 30) and the progress of city hall construction (staff move-in expected late September/early October).
- Board Member Update – The board noted that an administrative hearing judge upheld the CDB’s decision in a January 2026 tree case appeal involving a property on Marlington Way.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. This meeting in the community development board is called order on June sixteenth. Welcome everyone. As we begin this meeting, help us to engage in meaningful discussion. Allow us to go across a group and nurture the bonds of this community. Please join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. I am Michael Bootsgus, and I'll ask the other members of the staff to introduce themselves, beginning on my left. Andy Park, O'Brien Hogar Court. Point Hamilton. Noah Diker, Board Attorney. Rosemary Call, City Clark. Matthew Minnesota, Assistant City Attorney. Michelle Chenault. Louise Cerna. Andrew Hupp. Thank you. Please remember to turn off your cell phone so they've not become a distraction during the meeting. Please also refrain from having conversations in this room so 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 we'll ask all those in attendance today who plan to speak to please rise and be sworn in by the clerk. Do you have firm departments about your entire testimony? Thank you. Agendas of today's meeting are 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, 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. If everybody's had a chance to review them, maybe piece of a motion for approval. I'm a motion to approve the minutes. Second. Motion made and second. Any discussion? There being none. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Motion carries. Next on our agenda today is for public comment on any matters not on today's agenda. Is there any person wishing to address the board concerning any matter that is not appear on today's agenda? Please come forward, state your name clearly into the microphone. And welcome back. Hello, guys. Um, my name is Alex Stein, S T E I N, and I have a serious uh grievance that I came here for. I just got off a fabulous carnival cruise ship, other than the fact that uh lost about 6400 bucks in the casino. Um it was a great time. I'm wearing this ridiculous mask. I got diagnosed with hontavirus, and I don't want anybody. And I got monkeypox, but I'm vaccinated for both, so I think that I will be okay. But I was planning on going on that beautiful carnival cruise with my wife Deborah until she met a guy named Jeremy that told her about this really cool new age spiritual religion that can bring her to a place of clarity. And you know what?
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