Gulfport Planning and Zoning Board Meeting - February 7, 2024
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Gulfport Planning and Zoning Board Meeting - February 7, 2024
The Gulfport Planning and Zoning Board met on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at 6:00 PM at Gulfport City Hall. The board approved the prior meeting minutes and voted 5-0 to recommend approval of a subdivision replat application. Members also received an update on the city's comprehensive plan amendment process and raised concerns about conflicting lot-size requirements in the city code.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (December 6, 2023): The board approved the minutes from the December 6, 2023 meeting by voice vote.
Discussion Items
- SR24-01 – Kelner 23-31M LLC Subdivision Replat (2838 53rd Street South): The applicant requested approval to reconfigure one lot into two lots. Staff reported the property is currently one platted lot but was previously two lots of record before 1985; the home has been demolished. The interior lot would be 55 feet wide, which meets R-3 zoning (50-foot minimum) but does not meet the subdivision code's 60-foot minimum, so a separate variance will be required (board members noted the board does not handle variances). The corner lot is subject to an additional 65-foot requirement, according to the applicant. Board members discussed conflicting rules in Chapter 18 and Chapter 22 of the code, questioning why the subdivision code imposes a larger minimum than R-3 and requesting a more streamlined, understandable code. Board Member Hanrahan expressed concern about preserving two oak trees on the property; the applicant stated the trees would be preserved and noted renderings were provided. The applicant and property owners spoke in favor of the replat, emphasizing that two single-family homes would better fit the corner and historical district than a duplex. The motion to approve was initially made for "zoning and variances," but was amended to apply only to the subdivision replat application after the chair clarified that variances are not before the board.
- Comprehensive Plan Update: Under "Any other business," Board Member Cowen requested an update on the comprehensive plan. Staff (Mike Taylor) reported that the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) was due March 23, 2023, and was submitted by the city manager on that date. The city is working with Forward Pinellas on statutorily required EAR-based amendments, including a private property rights element, an updated capital improvements element, an updated regional water supply plan from the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and comprehensive land use map updates. The city manager explained that no comp plan amendments can be made until the EAR-based amendments are transmitted to the state and adopted, a process expected to take about two years. Board members expressed frustration with state mandates and the lack of local control over required changes.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes: Approved.
- Subdivision Replat Application SR24-01: The board voted 5-0 to approve the application (Board Members Cowen, Gonzalez Hastings, Hanrahan, Craig, and Reed voting yes; Board Member Bixler did not vote as an alternate). The item will go to the City Council on February 20, 2024. The plat must be filed with the city clerk and the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Pinellas County within 90 days of council approval, otherwise the lots will revert to their original configuration.
- Comprehensive Plan: No formal action taken; the board received the update and will continue to monitor the process.
- Code Clarity: The board discussed the need for a more streamlined and understandable zoning/subdivision code, with no formal action taken.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I'd like to call to order the planning and sounding meeting for the city of Hulk for Wednesday, February seventh, two thousand twenty twenty four. If you could please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Congratulations. And he doesn't have an individual with delivery. There she is. If we could please have roll call. Board Member Bixler? Here. Board Member Cowen. Oh, here. Board Member Gonzalez Hastings. Here. Board Member Hanrahan. Here. Vice Chairperson Craig. Here. Chairperson Reed. Here. City Attorney Salzman? Here. Deputy City Clerk Hartman present. Thank you. At this time we'll open for public comment. Public comments on the are on the agenda and non-agenda items. We voted in some time ago to be in compliance to coincide with city council meetings, a maximum of three minutes. Approval of the minutes. Second. Okay, we have a first and a second. All in favor, say all right. Can I make a comment first, please? Yes. Um that's okay. We we moved on quite fast there. So I don't know whether it's required, appropriate, inappropriate to mention in the minutes that uh Mr. Bixler was on the board because we had a member who was absent. It's so he was on as his role as alternate on the board. I don't know if we do that. We don't mention that, that's not necessary. Okay, so we don't member of the board, and if there if there's an insufficient number, then he's a voting member. Okay. Yeah, good. All right, all in favor, say aye. Aye. Aye. All right, so passed. Um applications. Uh 3A, SR 24-01, Kellner 23-31M LLC, the owner applicant with Matthew Sullivan, the agent, 2838, 53rd Street, South Gulfport, Florida, 33707. The subject property is legally described as 120 foot lot 9 and S 120 feet of lot 11, Veteran City S. According to the Platter map thereof, as recorded in Platbook H4, page 017.
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