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City of St. Petersburg

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COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1: General Introduction

Chapter 2: Vision Element

Chapter 3: Future Land Use Element

Chapter 4: Conservation Element

Chapter 5: Coastal Management Element

Chapter 6: Transportation Element

Chapter 7: Housing Element

Chapter 8: Recreation and Open Space Element

Chapter 9: Utilities Element Potable Water Subelement Sanitary Sewer Subelement Drainage Subelement Aquifer Recharge Subelement Solid Waste Subelement

Chapter 10: Capital Improvements Element

Chapter 11: Intergovernmental Coordination Element

Chapter 12: Historic Preservation Element

Chapter 13: Public School Facilities Element

Chapter 14: Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Element

Chapter 15: Property Rights Element

TABLE OF MAPS

Map 1: City Location Map Map 2: 2020 Future Land Use Map Map 3: Gateway Activity Center Map 4: Intown Activity Center Map 5: Central Plaza Activity Center Map 6: Tyrone Activity Center Map 6A: Central Avenue Corridor Activity Center Map 6B: Skyway Marina District Activity Center Map 7: Historic Properties Within Downtown Map 8: Historic Properties Outside the Downtown Area Map 9: Spoil Disposal Sites Map 10: Urban Infill and Redevelopment Designation Area Map 11: Scenic Non-Commercial Corridors Map 12: Existing Vegetation Map 13: Soils Map 14: Biological Resources Map 15: Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA) Map 16: Public Access (Beaches and Shores) Map 17: Flood Hazard Areas (FEMA/FIRM) Map 18: Bays, Harbors, Rivers, Lakes, Estuaries and Drainage Basins Map 19: Carbon Sink and Energy Conservation Areas Map 20: Future Major Streets Map 21: Future Lane Arrangements Map 22: Existing Intermodal Facilities Map 23: Port of St. Petersburg - Existing Facilities Map 24: Major Trip Attractors and Generators Map 25: Height Limitations for Airport Imaginary Surfaces Map 26: Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) Bus Routes Map 27: Sidewalks Map 28: Truck Routes Map 29: Critical Evacuation Routes Map 30A: Albert Whitted Airport - Existing Facilities Map 30B: Albert Whitted Airport - Planned Facilities Map 31: St. Petersburg Bike Map Map 32: Downtown Parking Lots and Street Parking Map 33: 2008 Roadway Level of Service Map 34: Looper

Chapter One, General Introduction

City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Sections:

1.1 Purpose 1.2 Plan Format 1.3 Plan Administration 1.4 Historic Planning Efforts 1.5 Citizen Participation 1.6 List of Abbreviations 1.7 Definitions 1.8 Population Forecasts

1.1 PURPOSE

The City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan has been developed and amended pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 163, Florida Statutes (F.S.), the "Community Planning Act" (formerly the Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act) and the requirements of Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.).

Community specific concerns, in addition to the guide lines set forth in Chapter 163, F.S., have also been targeted within the Goals, Objectives, and Policies section of each of the plan elements. Many of these objectives and policies go beyond the legislative requirements and are indicative of the many years that comprehensive planning has been in effect in St. Petersburg.

The comprehensive planning process in St. Petersburg was developed to guide the community to:

• protect the public health, safety, and welfare;

• address the concerns of the community related to growth management and the preservation of the City's character;

• preserve and protect the resources of the community through the guidance of growth and redevelopment while continuing to provide quality services concurrent with the impacts of development (or redevelopment);

• protect and enrich the quality of life within the community;

• ensure the consideration of long-range goals in the determination of short range decisions and actions; and,

• promote a healthy, stable, and well-balanced economic atmosphere which satisfies the goods and services needs of the community, promotes employment opportunities, and supports a strong and diverse economic base.

Chapter One, General Introduction

City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

1.2 PLAN FORMAT

1.2.1 Plan Chapters/Elements

The first chapter in this Comprehensive Plan, "General Introduction and Definitions," and the last chapter in this document, "Plan Monitoring and Evaluation," are different in format from the other chapters. However, they are no less important and discuss the requirements for plan administration and other mandatory provisions. The element chapters utilize the format described in the Element Format portion of this section.

1.2.2 Element Format

1.2.2.1 Introduction

Each chapter begins with a brief introduction which describes the purpose of the ensuing element including identifying the need for specific information and its usefulness to the comprehensive planning process. This information is followed by outline of the Goal(s) then the Objectives with the corresponding policies.

1.2.2.2 Maps, Tables, and Figures (as required)

Maps, tables, and figures are provided to supplement the Goals, Objectives and policies of some Elements. The Future Land Use Map shall be the implementing tool for the Future Land Use Element of this Plan. Any detailed interpretation of the Future Land Use Map should be completed with the assistance of the official scale Future Land Use maps which are available for review in the planning department Office.

1.2.2.3 Goals, Objectives, and Policies

The Goals, Objectives, and Policies have been developed in response to and in accordance with the needs and directions of growth and determined levels of service requirements as identified within the Inventory and Analysis which can be found in the accompanying 1989 Technical Support Documents and the 1996 and 2007 Evaluation and Appraisal Reports.

All objectives are designed to identify the measurable achievements necessary to support the related goal. In those cases, where the Objective is not specific or measurable, but rather, the actual specificity and measurability is found in the supporting policy(ies), the policy(ies) shall be used for the purposes of monitoring and evaluation.

The Policies are intended to act as implementation mechanisms identifying programs and procedures to be used to accomplish the related objective.

This Comprehensive Plan is intended to be utilized as a document in its entirety. It shall hereby be established that no single goal, objective or policy or minor group of goals, objectives, or policies, be interpreted in isolation of the entire Plan.

Chapter One, General Introduction City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

1.2.2.4 Technical Support Document (TSD) and the 1996 and 2007 Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR)

1.2.2.5 Status and Use of the TSD and the EAR(s)

The 1989 TSD and the 1996 and 2007 EAR (EARs) are the entire technical element and special studies developed by the planning staff of the St. Petersburg Planning Department. The 1989 TSD and the 1996 and 2007 EARs are hereby referenced and established as the supporting data and analysis for this Comprehensive Plan.

The TSD and the EARs may be used to assist in the interpretation of this comprehensive plan and to aid in the review of proposed changes to this plan. It should be updated as necessary to maintain the usability of the data and analysis as an interpretive and advisory aid.

The TSD and the EARs shall not be considered a part of the Adopted Comprehensive Plan and shall not require amendment pursuant to Section 163.3187, F.S.

1.3 PLAN ADMINISTRATION

1.3.1 Plan Interpretation

1.3.1.1 Administrative Interpretation

It shall be the responsibility of the City of St. Petersburg Planning Department to administer this Comprehensive Plan in a manner specified by the policies in the Comprehensive Plan. During the course of administering this Comprehensive Plan it may be necessary for City personnel to interpret the policies of the Comprehensive Plan as those policies relate to specific application for development order approval, or as those policies relate to a proposed activity of the public sector.

1.3.1.2 Competing Policies

Where two or more policies are competing when applied to a particular set of factual circumstances, such conflict shall be resolved first by administrative interpretation of the Comprehensive Plan policies. The objective of any such interpretation shall be to obtain a result which maximizes the degree of consistency between the proposed development or public sector activity and this Comprehensive Plan, considered as a whole.

1.3.1.3 Guidelines for Plan Interpretation

In the interpretation of the provisions of this Comprehensive Plan, the following guidelines shall apply unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

A. Minimum Requirements

Chapter One, General Introduction City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

In the interpretation and application of the Comprehensive Plan, its goals, objectives and policies shall be held to be the minimum requirements necessary to accomplish the stated purpose and intent of this Comprehensive Plan.

B. Construction

The Comprehensive Plan shall be construed broadly to accomplish the purpose and intent of the Plan.

C. Tense; Number

Unless the obvious construction of the wording indicates otherwise: words used in the present tense can include the future; words in the masculine gender can include the feminine and neuter; words in the singular number can include the plural; and, words in the plural can include the singular.

D. Shall; Must; Should; May; Includes

The words "shall" and "must" are mandatory; the word "should" is discretionary and not mandatory; the word "may" is permissive; the word "includes" shall not limit a term to the specific examples, but is intended to extend its meaning to all other instances or circumstances of like kind or character.

E. State; County; City

The word "State" means the State of Florida, and its authorized agents; the word "County" means the County of Pinellas, Florida, and its authorized agents; and, the word "City" means the City of St. Petersburg, Florida, and its authorized agents.

F. Board; Commission; Officials

The terms Community Planning & Preservation Commission ("CPPC"), Community Preservation Commission ("CPC"), and Development Review Commission ("DRC"), shall mean the respective commissions of the City of St. Petersburg, and their authorized agents. The use of the term "City Council" or "Council" shall mean the St. Petersburg City Council. The use of the term "Planning Department" shall mean the Planning Department, the director of the department, and his or her authorized agents.

G. Conflicts

The particular shall control the general. If there is any difference of meaning or implication between the text of the Comprehensive Plan, the Planning Department will determine the correct information and modify the text or graphic as appropriate.

H. Interpretation of Undefined Terms

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Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, terms not defined herein shall be interpreted in the following manner:

1. By reference to the relevant provisions of the Community Planning Act, if specifically defined therein, or in other relevant and appropriate State statutes or rules;

2. According to the relevant provisions of the City Code, the rules for interpretation of this Comprehensive Plan, or in other relevant City ordinances relating to land development regulations;

3. By reference to generally accepted engineering, planning, or otherwise professional terminology if technical; and

4. Otherwise according to common usage.

I. Headings

All descriptive headings of goals, objectives, or other sections in the Comprehensive Plan are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation thereof.

1.3.2 Status of Comprehensive Plan

1.3.2.1 Relationship to the 1977 and 1983 Comprehensive Plan

This Comprehensive Plan upon adoption and approval shall supersede, in total, all parts of the St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan including all elements adopted between 1977 and 1983, and all subsequent amendments. These elements and their dates of adoption are listed below.

• Land Use, Traffic Circulation, Recreation/Open Space, Conservation - March, 1977;

• Sewer, Water, Drainage, Solid Waste, Utility - February, 1979;

• Housing - June, 1979;

• Collector Street, Port/Aviation, Mass Transit, Bikeway - July, 1979;

• Coastal Zone, Intergovernmental Coordination - November, 1979;

• Economic - July, 1980;

• Energy - April, 1981;

• Land Use, Traffic Circulation, Recreation/Open Space, and Conservation - were readopted in 1983;

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• Vision Element – October 2006;

• Public School Facilities Element – February 2008.

1.3.2.2 Relationship to Existing Land Development Regulations

The policies of this Comprehensive Plan supersede all conflicting provisions contained in existing land development regulations, as of the effective date of this Comprehensive Plan. Development order review and approval may, however, proceed pursuant to the provisions contained in the existing land development regulations where consistent with the policies of this Comprehensive Plan.

1.3.2.3 Relationship to Land Development Regulations Adopted Pursuant to Chapter 163.3202, F.S.

All land development regulations developed pursuant to Chapter 163.3202, F.S., shall be consistent with this Comprehensive Plan.

All development orders shall be issued pursuant to the requirements of those land development regulations.

1.3.2.4 Special Exceptions to Required Consistency with This Comprehensive Plan

For Special Exceptions to required consistency with this Plan, please see the provisions of Ordinance 1143-F, adopted on November 16, 1989, by which this Comprehensive Plan was adopted.

1.4 HISTORICAL PLANNING EFFORTS

St. Petersburg has a rich history of planning which is outlined in a book by Bruce R. Stephenson, Vision of Eden, Environmentalism, Urban Planning and City Building in St. Petersburg, Florida, 1900 - 1995. These efforts have included the John Nolen Plan of the 20's, the Bartholomew Plan of the 40's, the Citywide Conceptual Plan of 1974 and others which have provided a framework to recognize and protect our great assets.

The John Nolen Plan

Organized planning began in St. Petersburg with several plans developed by John Nolen in the 1920's. Nolen was the premier town planner of the time period and the Nolen Plans reinforced the importance of the park system, civic buildings and wide boulevards. Many of the cherished character defining features of St. Petersburg today reflect the important planning activities of this time period.

The Bartholomew Plan

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

City-wide planning continued in the 1940's with the Harland Bartholomew Plan. The Bartholomew Plan focused on many city-wide issues including education and school building for a rapidly expanding population. The Bartholomew Plan is most noted for the continued and strengthening development of the street grid pattern. The Bartholomew Plan set the groundwork for the development of the automobile oriented commercial corridors throughout our City today.

1970's Citizens Goals Committee

A growth management and conservation theme emerged in the early 70's which shape planning efforts even today. During the early 70's, the City experienced a period of extremely rapid growth; in fact, St. Petersburg was one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. As a response to urgent growth pressure, the City formulated a Citizens' Goals Committee for the purpose of defining the future directions of the community. The Committee was comprised of 205 interested citizens who formulated the "goals" for the future. There were 12 subcommittees dealing with major areas of community concern, such as the economy, environmental protection, land use, and housing.

The Citizens' Goals Committee invested two years of work in the preparation of the community goals, which became the foundation for the City's long-range planning effort. As outlined by the Committee and presented to the City Council in 1973, the community goals included:

• reestablishment of the downtown as the City's functional heart;
• encouraging identifiable neighborhoods;
• eliminating substandard housing and encouraging redevelopment;
• providing for more open space and eliminating adverse strip commercial development;
• providing for housing opportunities in the vicinity of jobs; and others.

This report re-enforced other growth management efforts of the City Council; in 1972 the zoning holding capacity, or the estimated number of people which could be accommodated under the zoning ordinance, was approximately 700,000 people. This was reduced in 1972 to a potential population of 550,000; further reductions in 1973 reduced the potential population to about 400,000.

Also in 1973, the St. Petersburg City Council created two new advisory commissions, the Planning Commission and Environmental Development Commission (or EDC). Both commissions were renamed in 2007 to the Planning & Visioning Commission (PVC) and the Development Review Commission (DRC). In 2013 the PVC was consolidated with the Community Preservation Commission (CPC) to create the Community Planning & Preservation Commission (CPPC). The DRC reviews development proposals dealing with requirements of the Land Development Regulations, such as site plans, special exceptions, and subdivisions. The CPPC is charged with preparing the long-range plan for the City. Council mandated that a new plan be developed dealing with land use, open space and recreation, transportation, public facilities and drainage, conservation and community facilities.

1974 Conceptual Plan

With the work of the Citizens' Goals Committee as a framework, the Planning Commission directed the preparation of the Conceptual Plan -- a generalized, idealistic, long-range guide to the

Chapter One, General Introduction

City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

City's development through approximately 2025. The Conceptual Plan is a very general policy statement that provides for: a potential population of 350,000; retention of at least 50% of the land area in permeable green space; major activity centers in the Downtown, the Tyrone area, and in the Gateway area of the City; and an integrated transportation system that would provide for more options than the automobile.

With the adoption of the Conceptual Plan, the City preceded statewide efforts in growth management. In July 1975, the State Legislature passed the Local Government Comprehensive Planning Act -- essentially requiring communities statewide to initiate the planning process started in St. Petersburg. The Act mandated certain elements and prescribed time requirements and review procedures statewide.

The detailed planning process took two and-one-half years and countless hours of Planning Commission and staff time to complete. In addition to extensive media coverage, nearly 300,000 notices and informational handouts were distributed to the public to encourage their participation. A series of Planning Commission and City Council public hearings were conducted at locations throughout the City, such as high school auditoriums which were filled to capacity.

City Council adopted the St. Petersburg Land Use Plan on March 28, 1977. The Land Use Plan includes four key elements -- Land Use, Conservation, Recreation & Open Space and Traffic Circulation. The Land Use element provides direction for a planning time frame of about 25 years and takes the goals of the Conceptual Plan and the Citizens' Goals Report and makes them specific.

Land Use planning requires a number of basic inputs before a responsible Land Use Plan can propose future development. The Planning Department and the City's Planning Commission invested hundreds of hours in research, public workshops, and public hearings that resulted in the 1977 plan. After adoption of the initial four elements, fourteen additional elements were adopted during the succeeding four years.

The 1983 Update

The City's plan accommodated intense growth in appropriate areas called Activity Centers with the predominant land use of the City remaining low density residential and low intensity commercial and industrial. Infrastructure was planned and, therefore, adequate to accommodate the growth. New issues then emerged as the City had nearly reached build-out. Redevelopment, annexation, and conservation of natural resources became a primary focus.

The Land Use Planning process was re-initiated to meet City needs and satisfy State Growth Management Legislation. A series of workshops conducted by the Planning Commission focused on major areas of concern, such as:

• Revitalization of Bayboro Harbor area
• Historic Preservation
• Tyrone "Triangle" Transportation
• Development/redevelopment of the 4th Street Corridor

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

Four key elements, Land Use, Conservation, Recreation/Open Space, and Traffic Circulation, were revised and adopted in 1983 to address the changing emphasis to redevelopment. During approximately a one and-one-half year period, City staff met with citizens in informal and formal workshops which were followed by numerous public hearings before both the Planning Commission and the City Council (prior to adoption in 1983).

Visions for a Decade - 1983 City Council Goals

In 1983, City Council initiated a reevaluation of the Citizens' Goals process of 1973. Entitled "Visions for a Decade", 180 City residents (twenty from each City Council district) served on nine 20-member subcommittees. With the assistance of one full-time City staff person and a consultant "facilitator", the subcommittees met more than 35 times to reevaluate City goals and policies. The extensive report resulting from the Committee's work was published and presented to City Council in 1984.

Three major goal areas with 24 objectives resulted from "Visions for a Decade":

• Economic Vitality
• Neighborhood Identity and Vitality
• Preserve Waterfront and Permeable Open Space

These goals and objectives were used to shape the current comprehensive planning process.

1989 Comprehensive Plan

In 1985 the State Legislature, in response to statewide growth management concerns, adopted the Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act that mandated comprehensive planning for all local governmental jurisdictions in Florida. The Act introduced the concurrency requirement to local government planning and mandated that public facilities be in place to serve the needs of approved development. After extensive public participation and Planning Commission review, the City Council adopted the 1989 Comprehensive Plan to comply with the Act. That plan, contained herein, as amended over the years, includes numerous elements and subelements that address the wide range of issues that affect the City's growth and development.

1996 Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR)

As per Chapter 163 F.S and 9J-5 F.A.C. (repealed in 2011), the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) of the 1989 Comprehensive Plan was adopted by City Council in December 1996. The EAR assessed and evaluated the successes and failures of the Comprehensive Plan, including the validity of the population projections, and realization of the plan's goals, objectives and policies. The report addressed the impact of changes to community conditions and state and regional regulations on the Plan. The data and background information was updated for each element to reflect conditions at the time of the EAR. The EAR also identified the citizen participation process. Plan amendments or additional studies were recommended in response to the identified changes in the community. The findings of the EAR included recommended amendments to the

Chapter One, General Introduction City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

Comprehensive Plan goals, objectives and policies and additional studies that were needed to provide data and analysis to clarify outstanding issues. These findings have resulted in amendments to the Comprehensive Plan. Thus, the EAR now stands as a Technical Support Document (TSD) to the Comprehensive Plan.

Vision 2020

The St. Petersburg Vision 2020 Plan, adopted by City Council on October 17, 2002, was born from concern by neighborhood activists, Planning Commissioners, City Council, City Staff and the development community over land development regulations and review processes that were difficult and often yielded unsatisfactory results. Primary among the concerns was a zoning code that did not address the traditional character of older, pre-WWII neighborhoods and commercial areas and the lack of design guidelines to ensure a minimum design quality for development, redevelopment, alterations and additions.

The process facilitated open discussion of many aspects of the City through the use of several techniques that included the perspective of national experts, City staff, the 2020 steering committee and a broad spectrum of over 375 citizen leaders and delegates. The goal was to create a setting for a productive discussion of commonly held values through Citizen Based Themes that should be considered in all subsequent community activities. As part of the implementation of the 2020 Vision Plan, a Vision Element was incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan and new land development regulations were subsequently adopted.

2007 Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR)

As required by Chapter 163, F.S., and Chapter 9J-5, F.A.C. (repealed in 2011), the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) of the Comprehensive Plan was approved by the City Council in May of 2007. The EAR assessed and evaluated the successes and failures of the Comprehensive Plan, including the validity of the population projections, and realization of the plan’s goals, objectives and policies. The report addressed the impact of changes to community conditions and state and regional regulations on the Plan. Plan amendments or additional studies were recommended in response to the identified changes in the community. The findings of the EAR included recommended amendments to the Comprehensive Plan goals, objectives and policies. These findings resulted in amendments to the Comprehensive Plan.

2007 Land Development Regulations (LDRs) Update

In August of 2007, the City Council adopted new LDRs. The new LDRs, in part, integrated design criteria into all zoning districts and increased density in certain areas of the City in order to further mixed use development. The new regulations went into effect on September 10, 2007.

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

1.5 CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

1.5.1 Introduction

St. Petersburg's planning process is an example of on-going citizen commitment. St. Petersburg's planning process has, since the early 70's, benefitted from formal and informal citizen participation in growth management issues. Extensive citizen participation was encouraged throughout the process.

1.5.2 Public Participation Plan

To assure public involvement in the development and adoption of the St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan Evaluation and Appraisal Reports and subsequent Plan updates, the commission(s) designated in the LDRs actively seeks input and interaction with a variety of formal and informal groups and individuals. The methods for obtaining public input and disseminating information about the Comprehensive Plan, Comprehensive Plan Amendments, and Evaluation and Appraisal Reports are outlined in this public participation plan. The methods and procedures include those mandated in Chapter 163, F.S., as well as additional measures that exceed the mandated minimum requirements.

1.5.2.1 Comprehensive Plan Update and Readoption

The update and readoption of the Comprehensive Plan is an important undertaking that affects all aspects of the community. For that reason every effort is made to assure that as much of the community as possible is aware and understands what the Plan entails, its purpose, and its implications. The following is a summary of how the City achieves community involvement in Comprehensive Planning activities.

Early Involvement

Prior to any formal actions or public hearings by the City Council or the local planning agency (the commission(s) designated in the LDRs), citizen involvement is encouraged through workshops, community presentations, staff and document availability, and a notification mailing list. These efforts are designed to give the public an opportunity to have input during the formative stage of any comprehensive planning activity. It is hoped that several goals can be accomplished through early involvement: a better understanding of the purpose of the Plan, and what goes into its development; provide opportunities to the community to help develop the plan and, ultimately, to impart a feeling on the part of the community that the Plan is their Plan.

Notification Mailing List

The Planning & Visioning Commission (currently the Community Planning & Preservation Commission) and City staff initiated a notification mailing list that provides groups and individuals with advance notification of Community Planning & Preservation Commission meetings and workshops that have Comprehensive Plan items on the agenda. Any group or individual may be included on the notification mailing list. These initial mailouts have been successful in

Chapter One, General Introduction

City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

incorporating many important community groups, neighborhood associations, business associations, other special interest groups, individuals, adjacent governmental jurisdictions, and state and regional agencies into the local planning process.

Soliciting participation in the informal mailout program is an ongoing process. Brochures that explain the planning/growth management and EAR processes contain a registration form for interested citizens to send to the planning department. These brochures have been and continue to be available at City Hall, the planning department, and at community presentations.

Community Presentations

General community presentations are conducted at the Main Branch of the Public Library. Presentations are also made to specific interest and community groups at their meeting locations upon request. Interested groups are advised to contact the planning department to make arrangements for presentations.

Workshops

Workshops are held with the commission(s) designated in the LDRs to review data inventory and analysis, levels of service, concurrency, goals, objectives, and policies plus many other issues and segments of the Comprehensive Plan. These workshops are held well in advance of any formal adoption or submittal date to allow for revision and correction of draft elements, and to provide and receive information that helps clarify and shape the Plan's content. The commission(s) designated in the LDRs workshops are noticed through the mailout process and the City’s government access channel on scroll. Workshops are also held with the City Council prior to adoption hearings.

Document and Staff Availability

Draft and final documents are available for public inspection at the planning department and the Main Public Library, and may be purchased for a minimal copying charge. In addition, planning department staff is available for consultation and document explanation.

Mandatory Public Hearings

Mandatory public hearings are those required by state or local laws to be held within specified time and procedural guidelines. For the Comprehensive Plan, these mandatory public hearings are held prior to both the commission(s) designated in the LDRs and City Council actions and recommendations.

The Commission(s) Designated in the LDRs Public Hearing

The commission(s) designated in the LDRs public hearings are held prior to the commission(s) designated in the LDRs action as required by Chapter 163 and Chapter 166, F.S., and notice of such public hearings shall be provided in accordance with Florida law. Those unable to attend public hearings can submit any comments they have in writing, by hand delivery or by electronic

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

or regular mail. Written comments will be entered into the official file. In addition the public hearings are advertised on the City's government access channel.

Persons wishing to speak at the public hearing are allowed three minutes to summarize their concerns. Public hearings are recorded and the recordings are included in the official records of the hearing. All documents related to the subject of the public hearing are available at the hearing for inspection. Anyone who wishes to submit written comments at the hearing is allowed to do so.

City Council Public Hearings

Public hearings are held prior to City Council action as required by Chapter 163 and Chapter 166, F.S., and notice of such public hearings is provided in accordance with Florida law. When two public hearings are required, generally the first public hearing takes place prior to submittal of the ordinance to the Florida state land planning agency and the second occurs after receipt of all reviewing agency comments and prior to final City Council adoption. All reviewing agency comments are available for public inspection at the planning department and at the second public hearing.

1.5.2.2 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Process

The City of St. Petersburg processes Plan amendments in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 163, Florida Statutes. The general procedures for advertisement, notifications, and public hearing procedures are the same for all types of Plan amendments; however, the process is different for Future Land Use Map amendments and amendments that change the list of permitted, conditional or prohibited uses. The Local Planning Agency (LPA), which is the commission(s) designated in the LDRs, must hold a public hearing and make a recommendation to the City Council on the proposed amendment. The City Council then holds two public hearings for text and threshold amendments and takes final action on the amendment. Subthreshold Future Land Use Map amendments require one City Council Public Hearing.

Pinellas Planning Council/Countywide Planning Authority amendments to the Future Land Use Plan require approval of the Board of County Commissioners acting as the Countywide Planning Authority (CPA). Prior to action by the CPA, all Future Land Use Plan amendments are heard by the Pinellas Planning Council (PPC). The PPC makes recommendations to the CPA based on the Objectives and Policies of the Countywide Land Use Plan. The amendment process for the Countywide Future Land Use Plan is as described in Article 5 of the Rules Concerning the Administration of the Countywide Future Land Use Plan.

Notification Procedures; Supplemental Notice

All amendments to the Comprehensive Plan require a legal advertisement to be published in a newspaper of general circulation as outlined in Chapter 163 and Chapter 166, F.S. When Future Land Use Map amendments have been proposed, owners of real property subject to the amendment and property owners within 200 feet are also to be sent supplemental notice by mail in accordance with the Land Development Regulations, Section 16.70.010.4.

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1.5.2.3 Evaluation and Appraisal Report Adoption

Public participation for evaluation and appraisal reports is the same as plan adoption procedures.

1.5.3 Applicable State Law and Rules

The public participation plan outlined in section 1.5.2 is intended to meet the requirements of Chapter 163, Part II, F.S. These requirements are as follows:

1. To encourage and to provide for effective public participation in the comprehensive planning process.

2. To assure that real property owners are put on notice, through advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the area or other method adopted by the local government, of official actions that will regulate or affect the use of their property.

3. To provide for broad dissemination of the proposals and alternatives.

4. To assure opportunities for the public to provide written comments.

5. To assure that the required public hearings are held.

6. To provide for open discussion on the proposed plan.

7. To provide for communications programs for dissemination of information on proposals and alternatives, and on the proposed plan.

8. To provide for information services.

9. To provide for notice to keep the general public informed during the plan revision process.

10. To assure the consideration of and response to public comments on proposals and alternatives, and on the proposed plan.

11. To make executive summaries of the comprehensive plan available to the general public.

12. To release information at regular intervals during the planning process to keep the citizenry apprized of planning activities.

Chapter One, General Introduction City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

1.6 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AADT | Average Annual Daily Traffic ABM | Agency on Bay Management ADA | Application for Development Approval BACS | Bay Area Commuter Services BOCC | Board of County Commissioners CBD | Central Business District CCMP | Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for Tampa Bay CDBG | Community Development Block Grant CHHA | Coastal High Hazard Area CI | Certificate of Inspection CLUP | County Land Use Plan CO | Certificate of Occupancy CG | Commercial General CPA | Countywide Planning Authority CPPC | Community Planning and Preservation Commission CPD | Community Planning and Development CRD | Community Redevelopment District CRS | Community Rating System DEP | Department of Environmental Protection DO | Development Order DOP | Disaster Operations Plan DRC | Development Review Commission DRI | Development of Regional Impact DUs | Dwelling Units EAR | Evaluation and Appraisal Report EPA | Environmental Protection Agency FAA | Federal Aviation Administration FAC | Florida Administrative Code FAR | Floor Area Ratio FDEP | Federal Department of Environmental Protection FDOT | Florida Department of Transportation FEMA | Federal Emergency Management Agency FWC | Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission FHSRTC | Florida High Speed Rail Transportation Commission F.S. | Florida Statutes FLUM | Future Land Use Map HCM | Highway Capacity Manual HUD | Housing and Urban Development (Department of) I | Institutional IG | Industrial General IL | Industrial Limited LOS | Level of Service LMS | Pinellas County Local Mitigation Strategy LPA | Local Planning Agency

Chapter One, General Introduction City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

MHW | Mean High Water MIS | Major Investment Study MPO | Metropolitan Planning Organization NHS | Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. NFIP | National Flood Insurance Program NMFS | National Marine Fisheries Services NPDES | National Pollution Discharge Elimination System PMI | Pinellas Mobility Initiative PPC | Pinellas Planning Council PHA | Public Housing Authority PRES | Preservation PR-R | Planned Redevelopment – Residential PR-MU | Planned Redevelopment – Mixed Use PR-C | Planned Redevelopment – Commercial PSIG | Pounds per Square Inch Gravity PSTA | Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (formerly the SPMTS) P/SP | Public/Semipublic RAC | Regional Activity Center REHAB | Rehabilitation RH | Residential High RL | Residential Low RLM | Residential Low Medium RM | Residential Medium RU | Residential Urban ROW | Right of Way R/OG | Residential/Office General R/OS | Recreation/Open Space SIS | Strategic Intermodal System SR | State Route STA | Special Transportation Area SWFWMD | South West Florida Water Management District TBARTA | Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority TBRPC | Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council TBEP | Tampa Bay Estuary Program TBW | Tampa Bay Water (formerly WCRWSA) TCEA | Transportation Concurrency Exception Area TDM | Transportation Demand Management TMP | Transportation Management Plan TSD | Technical Support Document TSM | Transportation System Management TU | Transportation/Utilities UMTA | Urban Mass Transit Administration USF | University of South Florida USFWS | United States Fish and Wildlife Services USF&WS | United States Fish and Wildlife Services WF | Well Field

Chapter One, General Introduction City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

WRF Water Reclamation Facility

1.7 DEFINITIONS

Access Management - The regulation and control of vehicular access to public roads to insure the safe and efficient operations of the roadway system.

Accessory Dwelling Unit – An ancillary or secondary living unit, that has a separate kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area, existing either within the same structure, or on the same lot, as the primary dwelling unit. Accessory dwelling units are not counted against the otherwise applicable maximum dwelling units per acre density standard when accessory to a single-family dwelling unit.

Active recreation - Recreational activities which are moderately to intensely physically rigorous, such as soccer, tennis, football, etc.

Alternative Fuel - a fuel used in vehicles that comes from a source other than petroleum, such as ethanol made from corn and biodiesel made from vegetable oil.

Alternatives Analysis (AA) – An Alternatives Analysis (AA) is an independent evaluation of local transit corridors that will help determine the placement and type of transit options that are most suitable for Pinellas County and that qualify for federal funding.

Alum - Liquid aluminum sulfate.

Alum Stormwater Treatment System - A stormwater treatment system which injects Alum into the water body to improve water quality by removing sediment from the water column. Alum forms harmless non-toxic precipitates which combine with phosphorous, suspended solids and heavy metals causing them to fall through the water column to the bottom of the water body. After clarity is achieved, the Alum sediment matter is removed from the bottom of the water body by maintenance dredging.

Amnesty Days (Hazardous Waste) - Voluntary program which allows citizens to bring small quantities of hazardous waste to a central collection facility for proper disposal.

Aquifer - A water-bearing layer of rock or soil that will yield water in usable quantity to a well or spring.

Arterial Road, Minor - A roadway that provides a significant degree of mobility and continuity for motorists that are traveling in a corridor that connects major activity centers. Typically, traffic volumes and operating speeds are lower and trip lengths are shorter on minor arterials than principal arterials.

Arterial Road, Principal - A roadway that provides a high degree of mobility and continuity for motorists that are traveling in a corridor that connects major activity centers. Typically, traffic

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

volumes and operating speeds are higher and trip lengths are longer on principal arterials than minor arterials.

Ballast, Electronic - A short name for fluorescent high frequency electronic ballast. Electronic ballasts use solid state electronic components and typically operate fluorescent lamps at frequencies in the range of 25-35 kHz. The benefits are: increased lamp efficacy, reduced ballast losses and lighter, and smaller ballasts compared to electromagnetic ballasts.

Ballast, Magnetic - Electromagnetic Ballasts (Magnetic Ballasts) are ones that use a core and coil assembly to transform electrical current to start and operate fluorescent and high intensity discharge (HID) lamps.

Beach - The zone of sedimentary, unconsolidated material on the estuarine shorelines that extends landward from the mean low water line to a place where there is a marked change in material or physiographic form, or to the line of permanent vegetation, usually the limit of storm waves.

Bike Lane - A portion of a roadway which has been designated by striping, signing and pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of bicyclists.

Bike Path - A bikeway physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier and either within the highway right of way or within an independent right of way.

Bike Route - A segment of a system of bikeways designated by the jurisdiction having authority with appropriate directional and informational markers, with or without a specific bicycle route number.

Biodiesel - A domestically-produced fuel for diesel engines derived from natural oils, such as camelina, canola, mustard, soybean, or other crops or animal fats. Biodiesel is typically produced by a chemical reaction between this oil and an alcohol such as methanol, in the presence of a catalyst, to yield the fuel and a glycerin byproduct.

Brownfields - Abandoned, idled, or underutilized industrial and commercial properties where expansion or redevelopment is hindered by real or perceived environmental contamination.

Capital Improvement - Physical assets constructed or purchased to provide, improve or replace a public facility; generally large scale, high in cost, nonrecurring and require multi-year financing.

Carbon Sinks, Natural - Places of carbon accumulation, such as in large forests (organic compounds) or ocean sediments (calcium carbonate); carbon is thus removed from the carbon cycle and stored for an indefinite period.

Citizens - Residents of the City. In the context in which the term is used, the term may include visitors and guests. The term is used in a broad sense and includes persons with a lawful residence in the City but who may be legally domiciled elsewhere. The term is not intended to exclude persons who may be citizens of Canada or other nations.

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Classification of Waters - The Department of Environmental Protection categorization of surface waters according to the following designated uses:

Class I Potable Water Class II Shellfish Propagation or Harvesting Class III Recreation, Propagation and Maintenance of Fish and Wildlife Class IV Agricultural Water Supplies Class V Navigation, Utility, Industrial Use

Coastal Area - An area that encompasses water and submerged lands of estuarine water bodies; adjacent shorelines; living marine resources; marine wetlands; water dependent or water related facilities, including public access facilities; hurricane vulnerable zones; and all lands adjacent to such occurrences where development activities would impact the integrity or quality of the above.

Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA) - The area below the elevation of the Category 1 storm surge line as established by a Sea, Lake and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (“SLOSH”) computerized storm surge model approved in July 2016.

Coastal or Shore Protection Structure - Shore hardening structures such as seawalls, bulkheads, revetments, groins, breakwaters or other structures intended to prevent erosion or protect other structures from wave and hydrodynamic forces.

Collector Road - A roadway providing service which is of relatively moderate traffic volume, moderate trip length, and moderate operating speed. Collector roads collect and distribute traffic between local roads and arterial roads and are designed to provide both mobility and land access within residential, commercial and industrial areas.

Commercial Uses - Activities within land areas which are predominantly connected with the sale, rental and distribution of products, or performance of services.

Community Development Block Grant Program - The Community Development Block Grant Program is Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-383).

Community Rating System (CRS) - The National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. Property owners within a community that participates in CRS receive discounted flood insurance premium rates that reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from program participation.

Commuter Bus Service - Fixed route bus service characterized by service predominantly in one direction during peak periods, limited stops, use of multi-ride tickets and premium fares, and routes of extended length, usually between the central business district or major employment centers and outlying suburbs.

Compatible - Not having significant adverse impact. With limited variation from adjacent uses in net density, in type and use of structures (unless highly complementary), and with limited variation

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

in visual impact on adjacent land uses. In the instance of certain adjacent or proximate uses, compatibility may be achieved through the use of mitigative measures.

Composting - A process that converts organic materials to humus with micro-organisms in an aerobic environment. The process is not effective on most plastic and rubber compounds.

Concurrency - The necessary public facilities and services to maintain the adopted level of service standards are available when the impacts of development occur. Concurrency Management System - The procedures and process utilized to ensure that development orders and permits are not issued unless the necessary facilities are available concurrent with the impacts of development.

Confining Bed - A layer of earth material, usually clay, that tends to restrict the vertical movement of water into and out of an aquifer.

Conservation Uses - Activities within land areas designated for the purpose of conserving or protecting natural resources or environmental quality and includes areas designated for such purposes as flood control, protection of quality or quantity of groundwater or surface water, floodplain management, fisheries management, or protection of vegetative communities or wildlife habitats.

Density - The number of dwelling units per buildable land area, as set forth in the Land Development Regulations.

Design Storm - The statistical probability of a storm's magnitude and duration for a given rate of return, such as 1-year, 2-year, etc.

Development – The term has the meaning set forth in Section 163.3164, Florida Statutes, as amended.

Development of Regional Impact - Any development which, because of its character, magnitude, or location, would have a substantial effect upon the health, safety, or welfare of citizens of more than one county in Florida, as defined in section 380.06 (1), Florida Statutes, implemented by Rule 9J-2, Florida Administrative Code, and coordinated by the regional planning agency.

Development Order - Any order granting, denying, or granting with conditions an application for a development permit.

Development Permit - Any building permit, zoning permit, subdivision approval, rezoning, certification, special exception, variance, or any other official action of local government having the effect of permitting the development of land.

Disaster Operations Plan (DOP) - The local peacetime emergency plan prepared by the City Disaster Preparedness Coordinator which addresses preparation and response to natural and man-made disasters, specifically hurricanes, flooding and tornadoes.

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

Drainage Basin - The area defined by topographic boundaries which contributes stormwater to a drainage system, estuarine waters, or oceanic water, including all areas artificially added to the basin.

Drainage Facilities - A system of man-made structures designed to collect, convey, hold, divert or discharge stormwater, and includes stormwater sewers, canals, detention structures and retention structures.

Dwelling (residential) Unit - A conventional or manufactured, detached or attached structure constituting a single, independent, habitable unit.

Effluent - The treated wastewater which flows out of the treatment plant. Disposal alternatives include discharge into a water body or injection into deep aquifers. The treated wastewater may also be reclaimed for irrigation use.

Energy, Renewable - Energy generated from natural resources, e.g., sunlight, wind, rain, water, biomass and geothermal heat, that is naturally replenished.

Estuary - A semi-enclosed, naturally existing coastal body of water in which saltwater is naturally diluted by freshwater and which has an open connection with oceanic waters. The term includes but is not limited to bays, embayments, lagoons, sounds and tidal streams.

Ethanol - A gasoline alternative that is manufactured from the conversion of carbon based feed stocks such as sugar cane, sugar beets, switch grass, corn and barley.

Evacuation Route - Routes designated by the county civil defense authorities or the regional evacuation plan, for the movement of persons to safety, in the event of a hurricane.

Exotic Species - A non-native plant.

Extremely Low Income Persons – One or more natural persons or a family whose total annual household income does not exceed 30 percent of the median annual adjusted gross income for households within the state. (Reference: section 420.0004, F.S.)

Floodplains - Areas inundated during a 100-year flood event or identified by the National Flood Insurance Program as an A zone or a V zone on Flood Insurance Rate Maps or Flood Hazard Boundary Maps.

Floor Area Ratio (FAR) - A measure of the intensity of a development. The ratio of gross floor area to the net land area of the lot.

Florida Administrative Code - Rules and regulations which implement Florida Statutes passed by the legislature.

Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc. (FGBC) - A not-for-profit Florida corporation that promotes sustainability in the way buildings are designed, built and operated. The FGBC manages several

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

certification programs applicable to residential and nonresidential development, hosting education programs and providing resources for finding green products and professionals.

Florida Intrastate Highway System - A system of designated roadways created in 1990 by the Florida Legislature to provide for high-speed and high-volume traffic flow, including limited-and controlled-access facilities (e.g., Interstate highways, Florida’s Turnpike, expressways, and other facilities of regional significance). Functional Classification - The assignment of roads into categories according to the character of service they provide in relation to the total road network.

Goal - A long-term end toward which programs or activities are ultimately directed.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) - Any of a variety of gases known to be transparent to incoming solar radiation but capable of absorbing reflected infrared radiation from the Earth’s surface. The principal greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and chlorofluorocarbons, among others. Greenhouse gases other than CO2 are often converted into CO2-equivalents.

Green Home Designation Standard – The Green Home Designation Standards are administered by the FGBC. The Green Home Designation Standards indicate the criteria by which a Florida home, new or existing, can be designated green.

Gross Acres - Total acreage of the City less bodies of water.

Gross Floor Area - Gross floor area of a structure shall be the total area of all floors, including stairwells, elevator shafts, etc., measured from the outside face of enclosing walls or supports. The Land Development Regulations may exempt parking areas and other qualified exemptions for land use types, building design, site layout and orientation features provided within a zoning district’s design guidelines from the calculation of gross floor area.

Ground water - Water in the saturated zone that is under pressure equal to or greater than atmospheric pressure.

Guideway Transit System - A transit system that operates on rails or a beam. This includes, but is not limited to, light rail, heavy rail, monorail and automated guideway.

Hazardous Waste - Solid waste, or a combination of solid wastes, which, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics, may cause, or significantly contribute to, an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness or may pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly transported, disposed of, stored, treated, or otherwise managed.

Hazardous Waste Management Plan - Specific procedures, objectives, requirements or other provisions for the systematic control of the collection, source separation, storage, transportation, processing, treatment, recovery, recycling and disposal of hazardous waste.

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

Heat Island Effects - Elevated temperature observed in an area, especially urban settings. The concentration of energy use, combined with a density of heat absorptive surfaces and lack of natural cooling breezes, causes structures to retain heat and temperature to rise locally. Light-colored surfaces on buildings and pavements, such as achieved with concrete, significantly reduce the heat island effect.

Historic Resources - All areas, districts or sites containing properties listed on the Florida Master File, the National Register of Historic Places, or designated by the City as historically, architecturally, or archaeologically significant.

Household - A household includes all the persons who occupy a group of rooms or a single room which constitutes a housing unit.

Housing - Housing is basically shelter, but it also is privacy, location, environmental amenities, and, for many, an investment. As used in this Plan, the term is limited to the shelter aspect unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Housing Code - Standard used to determine whether an old or new structure is fit for human occupancy. The Housing Code is to insure maintenance and improvement of existing housing to meet accepted standards.

Housing Need - The number of housing accommodations required in order to provide all households with decent, safe and sanitary dwelling units which includes a sufficient number of vacant units to create a vacancy rate that will allow housing mobility and housing choice.

Housing Stock - The aggregate of individual housing units within the City. This term is used interchangeably with housing inventory in the element.

Housing Unit - A group of rooms or a single room is regarded as a housing unit when it is occupied as separate living quarters, that is, when the occupants do not live and eat with any other persons in the structure, and when there is either: 1) direct access from the outside of the building or a common hall, or 2) complete kitchen facilities for the exclusive use of the occupants of the household.

Hurricane Evacuation Clearance - The amount of time specified in the Pinellas County Hurricane Evacuation Plan Implementation Guide produced by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council for the safe evacuation of hurricane vulnerable areas.

Hurricane Shelter - A structure designated by local officials as a place of safe refuge during a storm or hurricane.

Hurricane Vulnerability Area - Area delineated by the Pinellas County Hurricane Evacuation Plan Implementation Guide produced by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council which will require evacuation in the event of a category 3 storm event.

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

Hybrid Vehicle - A hybrid vehicle is one that uses two or more distinct power sources to propel the vehicle and achieve better fuel economy than a conventional vehicle.

Idle Speed - The minimum speed that will maintain the steerageway of a motorboat.

Income - All income earned by each adult member of the family, including gross wages, social security, Workman's Compensation, child support, and public assistance (exclusive of any amount designated for shelter and utilities), plus the income from assets that are over $5,000, or 10 percent of assets over $5,000, whichever is greater.

Induction Lighting - Gases can be excited directly by radio-frequency or microwaves from a coil that creates induced electromagnetic fields. This is called induction lighting and it differs from a conventional discharge, which uses electrodes to carry current into the arc. Induction lamps have no electrodes inside the chamber and therefore generally have longer life than standard lamps.

Infrastructure - Structures which serve the general population, such as sewage disposal systems, potable water systems and wells, waste disposal sites or retention areas; stormwater systems; utilities; piers; docks; shore protection structures; causeways; marinas; navigation channels; bridges and roadways.

Intelligent Transportation Systems - The application of advanced technology and operational strategies in an integrated manner to increase the effectiveness of the surface transportation system.

Intermodal Facilities - Transportation facilities which provide for linkages between travel modes, such as rail or bus stations at airports.

Land Development Regulation - An ordinance which enacts regulations to control the development of land; the regulations adopted by such an ordinance.

Landfill - A site using an engineered method to dispose of solid wastes on land by spreading the wastes in thin layers, compacting the wastes and applying covering materials at the end of each day's operation.

Large Tract Wildlife Area - An area of 100 acres or more in its natural, undeveloped state.

Leachate - Fluid that issues from a pile or cell of solid waste which contains water, dissolved waste and decomposition products from the solid waste. It can contaminate groundwater and drinking water supplies.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) - A third-party certification program operated by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED™ is a voluntary, consensus-based standard in the United States to develop high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED™ provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals.

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

Level of Service - An indicator of the extent or degree of service provided by, or proposed to be provided by a facility based on and related to the operational characteristics of the facility. Level of service shall indicate the capacity per unit of demand for each public facility.

Light Emitting Diode (LED) - A solid that directly converts electrical impulses into light. Some LEDs today incorporate fluorescent materials to change the color characteristics of the emitted light.

Light Manufacturing/Assembly (Class A) - A use engaged in the manufacture (predominantly from previously prepared materials) of finished products or parts, including processing, fabrication, assembly, treatment, packaging, storage, sales, and distribution of such products consistent with such standards as may be prescribed in the City Code. This use shall not include or allow for any exterior storage or exterior processing of equipment or materials of any kind.

Living Marine Resources - Oceanic or estuarine plants or animals, such as mangroves, seagrasses, algae, coral reefs, and living marine habitat; fish, shellfish, crustacea and fisheries; and sea turtles and marine mammals.

Local Road - A roadway providing service which is of relatively low traffic volume, short average trip length or minimal through traffic movements, and high volume land access for abutting property.

Low Income Household - A household is considered low income if its annual income is between 50 and 80 percent of the median income of the area as determined by HUD, with adjustments for smaller or larger families or other special regional factors.

Major Streets - Higher order roads that exist primarily to provide mobility for people and goods and interconnect residential and nonresidential areas. Major streets in St. Petersburg include the Interstate system, principal arterials, minor arterials, collectors and neighborhood collectors. Local roads or service roads that carry low traffic volumes, short trips and exist primarily to provide access to property are not considered major streets.

Marina - A dock or basin providing secure moorings for boats.

Maximum Peak Hour Service Volume - The maximum number of vehicles which have a reasonable expectation of passing over a given roadway section or through a given intersection under prevailing road and traffic conditions during a specified hour of time.

Mean High Water (MHW) - The average height of the high waters over an approximate 19-year period.

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) - A federally mandated decision-making body for an urbanized area over 50,000 in population, to serve as the transportation planning agency for the area.

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

Minerals - All solid minerals, including clay, gravel, phosphate rock, lime, shells (excluding live shellfish), stone, sand, heavy minerals, and any rare earths, which are contained in the soils or waters of the state.

Missing Middle Housing – Housing that encompasses a range of smaller, multi-unit or clustered housing types (such as shotgun, skinny, duplex, triplex, fourplex, courtyard apartment, bungalow court, townhouse, multiplex, and live/work units), which are compatible in scale and design with single-family homes, and are designed to encourage walking, biking, and transit use. A density bonus of up to 30 dwelling units per acre is being offered to incentivize Missing Middle housing in the Residential Medium (RM), Planned Redevelopment – Residential (PR-R) and Planned Redevelopment – Mixed Use (PR-MU) land use categories.

Mixed Use - A site that has a combination of different land uses, such as residential, office and retail.

Mobile Home - A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which is built on a metal frame and designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities, and includes the plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical systems contained therein. Mode - The specific method chosen to make a trip. Typical modes are: walking, bicycling, motorcycle, automobile, van, taxi, bus and rail transit.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards - Minimum air quality standards established by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

Natural Drainage Features - The naturally occurring features of an area which accommodates the flow of stormwater such as streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands.

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) - A Federal program aimed at reducing the impact of flooding on private and public structures. The program provides insurance for property owners and encourages communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations. Overall, the program reduces the socio-economic impact of disasters by promoting the purchase and retention of Risk Insurance in general, and National Flood Insurance in particular.

Natural Reservations - Areas designated for conservation purposes, and operated by contractual agreement with or managed by a federal, state, regional or local government or nonprofit agency such as: national parks, state parks, lands purchased under Save our Coast, Conservation and Recreation Lands or Save our Rivers programs, sanctuaries, preserves, monuments, archaeological sites, historic sites, wildlife management areas, national seashores, and outstanding Florida waters.

Neighborhood Collector - A specialized type of collector road. While they function as a collector, they primarily serve residential areas. Designation as a neighborhood collector is intended to recognize the role that the roadway plays in the overall thoroughfare system while acknowledging the importance of preserving adjacent residential neighborhoods through traffic calming techniques.

Chapter One, General Introduction City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

Net Acres - Total developable acreage.

Net Residential Acreage - Buildable residential acres used to calculate the allowable number of dwelling units on a site.

Nuisance Exotic Plant Species - the following are classified as nuisance exotic plants; brazilian pepper, punk tree and australian pine.

Objective - A specific, measurable, intermediate end that is achievable and marks progress toward a goal.

One hundred (100) Year Flood - A flood level with a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The 100 year flood level in St. Petersburg is roughly 9 (nine) feet above mean sea level.

Open space - Undeveloped lands suitable for passive recreation or conservation uses.

Overriding Public Interest (test) - Actions required by local, state or federal government necessary for the promotion of the public safety, health and general welfare. In determining whether there is an overriding public interest for a project or activity, the following criteria shall be considered and balanced:

1. The public benefit to be derived from the project or activity;

2. The degree to which the current condition and relative value of functions being performed by areas affected by the proposed project or activity are degraded;

3. The degree to which the project or activity will adversely affect the public health, safety, or welfare, or property of others;

4. The degree to which the project or activity will adversely affect the conservation of fish and wildlife, including endangered or threatened species, or their habitats;

5. The degree to which the project or activity will adversely affect or enhance significant historic and archaeologic resources;

6. If the project or activity will be of a temporary or permanent nature; and

7. Availability of alternatives which avoid or minimize adverse impacts.

In deciding to recommend for or against a project or activity, measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the proposal shall be required.

Owner - Any person or entity, including a cooperative or a public housing authority (PHA), having the legal right to sell, lease, or sublease any form of real property.

Chapter One, General Introduction City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

Package Treatment Plants - Small scale treatment systems which have a collection network, treatment plant, and disposal system. Their capacities are available in a range up to one million gallons per day.

Park - A neighborhood, community, or regional park.

Passive Recreation - Recreational activities which are low to moderate in physical demands, such as nature appreciation, bird watching, and picnicking.

Pedestrian Facilities - Any corridor that safely accommodates pedestrian traffic, such as sidewalks and off-road trails.

Pinellas County Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) - The Pinellas County Local Mitigation Strategy, originally adopted in 1998 and subsequently updated in 2004, 2009 and 2014, is a plan that serves as a bridge between local governments’ comprehensive growth management plans, the county comprehensive emergency management plan, land development regulations, and relevant ordinances and codes such as those for floodplain management. This strategy integrates mitigation initiatives established through various policies, programs, and regulations into a single stand-alone working document.

Pinellas Mobility Major Investment Study - A study that was initiated to provide a collaborative decision-making forum for determining transportation investments appropriate to meet the needs of current and future Pinellas County residents and visitors. Alternative multi-modal transportation strategies were examined in an effort to serve land use patterns, manage traffic congestion and protect the environment.

Playground - A recreation area with play apparatus.

Policy - A way in which programs and activities are conducted to achieve an identified goal.

Pollution - The presence in the outdoor atmosphere, ground or water of any substances, contaminants, noise, or man-made or man-induced alteration of the chemical, physical, biological, or radiological integrity of air, water, in quantities or at levels which are or may be potentially harmful or injurious to human health or welfare, animal or plant life, or property, or unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of life or property.

Potable Water - Water which is satisfactory for drinking, culinary, and domestic purposes and which meets the appropriate requirements of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Potable Water Facilities - A system of structures designed, constructed or used to collect, treat or distribute potable water, which includes water wells, treatment plants, reservoirs and distribution mains.

Potentiometric Level - The height to which water will rise in tightly cased wells that penetrate an aquifer.

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

Potentiometric Surface - Sum of potentiometric levels over a specified area.

Premium Transit System - A transit system comprised of passenger rail and/or premium bus services.

Preservation Areas - Areas which, because of their natural conditions such as vegetative communities, water table and flood hazard boundaries, are designated by land use or zoning by the City of St. Petersburg as preservation, limiting the location and extent of development in these areas so as to preserve the natural value of the property.

Private Recreation Sites - Sites owned by private, commercial or nonprofit entities available to the public for purposes of recreational use.

Public Access - The ability of the public to physically reach, enter or use a site for recreation.

Public Recreation Sites - Sites owned or leased on a long-term basis by a federal, state or local governmental agency for purposes of recreational use.

Pull-Out Bay - Paved area adjacent to roadways where motor vehicles can pull out of travel lanes to load and unload passengers.

Recreation - The pursuit of leisure time activities occurring in an indoor or outdoor setting.

Recreation Facility - A component of a recreation site used by the public such as a trail, court, athletic field or swimming pool.

Recreational Uses - Activities within areas where recreation occurs.

Recycling – Reprocessing of discarded materials into new, useful products; not the same as reuse of materials for their original purpose, but the terms are often used interchangeably.

Regional Park - A park designed to serve two or more communities.

Resource Recovery - The extraction of useful materials or energy from waste. Recoverable materials generally are extracted mechanically and may include paper, glass and metals which can be reprocessed and used again. Recovered energy generally is extracted through combustion.

Resident Population - Inhabitants counted in the same manner used by the United States Bureau of the Census, in the category of total population. Resident population does not include seasonal population.

Resources, Renewable - Resources normally replaced or replenished by natural processes; resources not depleted by moderate use; examples include solar energy, biological resources such as forests and fisheries, biological organisms and some biogeochemical cycles.

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

Right-of-Way - Land in which the state, county, or a municipality owns the fee simple title or has an easement or other right to use the land for transportation purposes. A public right-of-way, however created or established, may be used by the public for vehicular or pedestrian travel but might not be owned by a governmental agency. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the term does not ordinarily include an easement for use only by public utility service providers.

Roofs, Cool - Energy-efficient roofing systems that reflect the sun’s radiant energy before it penetrates the interior of the building. These systems can reduce the building’s energy requirements for air conditioning.

Roofs, Green - A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil, or a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems.

Saturated Zone - The subsurface zone in which all voids are filled with water.

Seasonal Population - Part-time inhabitants who utilize, or may be expected to utilize, public facilities or services, but are not residents. Seasonal population shall include tourists, migrant farm workers, and other short-term and long-term visitors.

Seawall - A structure separating land and water areas and designed to prevent erosion and other damage due to wave action.

Septic Tanks - Generally these are used to serve single housing units, but they can be larger. They consist of a septic tank and a drainage field. The tank receives wastewater from the home for a settling period of the suspended solids. These suspended solids are gradually decomposed by the bacteria found in the tank. The remaining liquids are discharged through underground drainage pipes to a drainfield where the liquid percolates into the soil. Generally septic tanks require cleaning every three to five years.

Severely Incompatible - A condition whereby a particular previously lawful use or uses pose an immediate or imminent threat to the public health, safety and welfare because of its proximity to an allowable use.

Sludge - The accumulated solid residues of the wastewater treatment process. It is usually subjected to additional treatment to stabilize organic materials. Disposal methods include burial in solid waste landfills and use as a soil conditioner for agricultural purposes.

Soil Association - The distinctive soil pattern consisting of one or more major soils and at least one minor soil; used to identify large tracts of land for soils characteristics and limitations.

Soil Type - The groups of soil components as established by the Soil Conservation Service for which percolation rates, level of water table, pH, composition, and suitability for development have been identified.

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

Solar Design, Active - Electrical or mechanical technologies that reduce or eliminate the use of fossil fuels and electricity for heating, cooling, and building lighting. Active solar techniques include the use of photovoltaic panels, solar thermal collectors, with electrical or mechanical equipment, to convert sunlight into useful outputs.

Solar Design, Passive - Design strategies that reduce or eliminate the use of fossil fuels and electricity for heating, cooling, and building lighting. Passive solar techniques include orienting a building to the sun, selecting materials with favorable thermal mass or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air.

Solar Power - Solar energy is the radiant light and heat from the Sun. Solar power refers to the ever-evolving technologies used to harness solar energy. Solar power technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute sunlight.

Solid Waste - Sludge from a waste treatment works, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility or garbage, rubbish, refuse, or other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material resulting from domestic, industrial, commercial, mining, agricultural, or governmental operations.

Special Housing Needs - As used in the Housing Element, these are housing needs of special populations, such as handicapped, rural and farm worker households and the homeless.

Stormwater - The flow of water which results from a rainfall event.

State land planning agency - Means the Department of Economic Opportunity. (163.3164, F.S.)

Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) - is a statewide network of high-priority transportation facilities, including the state's largest and most significant commercial service airports, spaceport, deepwater seaports, freight rail terminals, passenger rail and intercity bus terminals, rail corridors, waterways and highways.

Structural Conditions - A means of characterizing structures in terms of their physical condition and appearance. Four condition levels are recognized:

1. Excellent - structures that are structurally sound and whose components express excellent and continual maintenance and no signs of wear.

2. Sound - structures that are structurally sound and in good condition, but whose components are beginning to show signs of wear or deferred maintenance.

3. Deteriorated - structures that are structurally sound, but whose components show obvious signs of aging, continued lack of maintenance and decay.

4. Dilapidated - structures which do not provide safe and adequate shelter, and which endanger the health, safety and well-being of occupants. Structurally unsound.

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Substandard - Substandard units are defined here in terms of physical condition, and include deteriorating and dilapidated units or nonconformance with codes and standards.

Sustainable Development - A pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but in the indefinite future.

Telecommuting - An arrangement whereby employees work at a location other than the conventional office site, usually from home or an office close to home.

Therapeutic Recreation - Recreational activities to improve physical, mental and emotional functioning and overall quality of life for special groups such as young children, elderly, the physically and developmentally challenged.

Traffic Calming - A measure that is implemented to reduce speeding traffic, reduce crashes and discourage cut-through traffic, thereby increasing safety and enhancing quality of life and the neighborhood environment. Many different traffic calming techniques exist, such as narrowed lanes, neck downs, chicanes, roundabouts, landscaped medians, a brick or stamped concrete surface, speed humps and diverters.

Transportation Concurrency Exception Area - A specific geographic area or areas delineated in the Comprehensive Plan designed to reduce the adverse impact that transportation concurrency may have on urban infill development and redevelopment and the achievement of other goals and policies of the state comprehensive plan, such as promoting urban infill development, urban redevelopment, downtown revitalization and public transportation. Under limited circumstances, it allows exception to the transportation concurrency requirement.

Transportation Demand Management (TDM) - The implementation of low-cost strategies to help reduce the demand for transportation facilities by encouraging alternatives to the single-occupant vehicle and by altering local peak hour travel demand. TDM strategies focus on behavioral changes rather than facility improvement and may include ridesharing programs, public transportation, flexible work hours, telecommuting, shuttle services and parking management.

Transportation Disadvantaged - Those persons who, because of physical or mental disability, income status, or age are unable to transport themselves or to purchase transportation and are, therefore, dependent on others to obtain access to health care, employment, education, shopping, social activities, or other life-sustaining activities. These persons also include children who are disabled or high-risk as defined in Ch. 411, F.S.

Transportation Management Plan - A transportation management plan (TMP) is required for development projects that add a significant number of new vehicular trips to roads with high levels of traffic congestion. A TMP can include strategies such as trail, sidewalk, bus stop and intersection improvements, trip reduction programs such as vanpooling or telecommuting, and provision of traditional design features.

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City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

Transportation System Management (TSM) - The implementation of low-cost capital improvements that improve mobility by optimizing the efficiency of the existing transportation system. TSM strategies can significantly improve the traffic flow on congested streets where reconstruction is not an option because of cost or disruption to the natural or built environment. TSM strategies include monitoring and adjusting traffic signal timing to improve traffic flow, adding or lengthening turn lanes at intersections, access management techniques and Intelligent Transportation System projects.

Treatment Actions - Preventive or remedial actions that may be taken to maintain the quality of the housing stock; including:

1. Conservation - on-going maintenance routine involving regular replacement or repair of physical components as, or before, they deteriorate in order to maintain conformance to initial standards throughout the structure's useful life.

2. Rehabilitation - repair or replacement of deteriorated or nonconforming aspects of existing structures to prolong their useful life or bring them into conformance with contemporary standards.

3. Restoration - rehabilitation that involves repair or duplication of historically or aesthetically significant features.

4. Redevelopment - demolition and replacement of dilapidated structures.

United States Green Building Council (USGBC) - A not-for-profit trade organization that promotes sustainability in the way buildings are designed, built and operated. The USGBC is best known for the development of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) rating system.

Usable Open Space - Land that is designated for open space that is accessible to the public’s use as passive recreation.

Unusable Open Space - Open space lands that are not accessible to the general public such as Interstate medians and parkways.

Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) - The number of miles traveled by motor vehicles in a specified period of time, such as a day or a year, by a number of motorists in absolute or per capita terms. One vehicle traveling the distance of one mile equals one VMT.

Velocity Zone - That portion of the coastal 100 year flood plain which would be inundated by tidal surge with velocity wave action; generally indicates the inland extent of a three (3) foot breaking wave.

Very Low Income Family - A family is very low income if its adjusted income does not exceed 50 percent of the median income of the area as determined by HUD, with adjustments for family size.

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Waste-to-Energy (WTE) - Waste to Energy (WTE) is a range of processes usually associated with municipal waste (but also used for industrial waste) where the waste is burned, gasified or digested at a high temperature. Heat energy is recovered from these processes (usually in the form of heat) and is reclaimed to produce steam and/or generate electricity.

Water Dependent - Activities which can only be carried out on, in or adjacent to water areas because the use requires access to a water body.

Water Enhanced - Activities that are not dependent upon waterfront access but whose value, exclusive of property value, is increased due to location on or accessibility to the water.

Water Related - Activities that are not directly dependent upon access to a water body, but which provide goods and services that are directly associated with water dependent or waterway uses.

Water Table - The surface of an unconfined aquifer, defined by the level at which water stands in wells that penetrate the water body far enough to hold standing water.

Xeriscaping - Water efficient landscaping using techniques such as limited turf areas, efficient irrigation, mulches, and native plants.

Zoning Ordinance - An ordinance whose purpose is to control the use, intensity and dimensional characteristics of development for specific locations. In the City of St. Petersburg, the term means the Land Development Regulations.

1.8 POPULATION CHANGES AND PROJECTED GROWTH

St. Petersburg’s rate of population growth has varied in the last two decades. In recent years, the city has experienced an annualized growth rate of approximately 1%. There were slightly more than 258,000 city residents reported in the 2020 U.S. Census and American Community Survey. The below graph shows the historic population growth for the past fifty years. The overall population has grown by approximately 42,000 residents, which represents a 19% population increase since the 1970 U.S. Census.

Chapter One, General Introduction City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

Historic Population Growth

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Based on past trends, the growth projection for St. Petersburg is in a range between 0.6% and 1.0% of new residents per year. Therefore by 2050, it is anticipated that the city could have between 327,000 and 367,000 residents. This reflects an overall potential increase of 68,000 to 108,000 residents or 2,266 to 3,600 additional residents per year. The below graph shows the range of population projections from low (source: Southwest Florida Water Management District), medium-low (source: Forward Pinellas, the Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization), medium-high (source: StPete2050 and Landwise Advisors), and high (University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research).

Population Projections

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GID-35 Effective 06/2024

VISION ELEMENT

2.1 Introduction 2.2 Citizen Based Themes 2.3 City Framework: Neighborhoods - Centers - Corridors ISSUE: St. Pete Vision 2020

2.1 INTRODUCTION

St. Petersburg is a unique community with many assets atypical of cities this size throughout the country. A beautiful waterfront parks system, a well-developed traffic dispersal grid system, traditional and suburban style neighborhoods, a bustling downtown and other city centers, abundant sunshine and many amenities provide for a high quality of life. St. Petersburg also has a rich history of planning which is outlined in a book by Bruce R. Stephenson, Vision of Eden, Environmentalism, Urban Planning and City Building in St. Petersburg, Florida, 1900 - 1995. These efforts have included the John Nolen Plan of the 20's, the Bartholomew Plan of the 40's, the Citywide Conceptual Plan of 1974 and others which have provided a framework to recognize and protect our great assets.

The John Nolen Plan

Organized planning began in St. Petersburg with several plans developed by John Nolen in the 1920's. Nolen was the premier town planner of the time period and the Nolen Plans reinforced the importance of the park system, civic buildings and wide boulevards. Many of the cherished character defining features of St. Petersburg today reflect the important planning activities of this time period.

The Bartholomew Plan

City-wide planning continued in the 1940's with the Harland Bartholomew Plan. The Bartholomew Plan focused on many city-wide issues including education and school building for a rapidly expanding population. The Bartholomew Plan is most noted for the continued and strengthening development of the street grid pattern. The Bartholomew Plan set the groundwork for the development of the automobile-oriented commercial corridors throughout our City today.

The Citywide Conceptual Plan of 1974

The last city-wide planning effort consisted of The Conceptual Plan of 1974. The Conceptual Plan reflected the desire to alter many of the negative construction practices of the 1950's era such as the small, poorly constructed, mass-produced housing stock built shortly after World War II. This planning effort reinforced the quality, suburban style neighborhoods of the south, west and north edges of St. Petersburg.

Each plan described above has provided St. Petersburg with a solid direction and has kept many of the elements in place that define the character of St. Petersburg. Vision 2020 also strives to

Chapter Two, Vision Element City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

maintain continuity with these earlier planning efforts by taking the best each have to offer and apply them to our new circumstances.

St. Pete Vision 2020

The Vision 2020 process was born from concern by neighborhood activists, Planning Commissioners, City Council, City staff and the development community over construction and renovation activities that were difficult and often yielded unsatisfactory results.

Vision 2020 was designed to be a true dialogue exploring the nature of the community today and expectations for the future. It facilitated open discussion of many aspects of the City through the use of several techniques that included the perspective of national experts, City staff, the 2020 steering committee and a broad spectrum of over 375 citizen leaders and delegates. The goal was to create a setting for a productive discussion of commonly held values through Citizen Based Themes that should be considered in all subsequent community activities.

The sequence of the Charrette included several steps to facilitate a multi-party discussion that could be inclusive, informative and constructive. This included the following elements:

• Lecture series with community discussion.
• Citizen based photography and data gathering.
• Charrette with Themes, Framework and Visioning exercises resulting in various action items, indicators of success, and summary documents.

A Vision for St. Petersburg in 2020

St. Petersburg is a unique and special place. It is blessed with a geography between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay that provides a natural setting matched by few waterfront cities anywhere in the world. This natural beauty has drawn a rich diversity of people, culture, art and architecture making St. Petersburg an outstanding place to live, work, play and learn for 100 years. It is appropriate that at least once every generation, the community pauses to evaluate itself for the benefit of present and future generations. Due in part to a rich planning history that began in the 1920’s with landscape architect John Nolen, St. Petersburg residents feel a strong sense of community stewardship. Residents of all races, religions and cultures have a meaningful history of public activism and civic contribution.

Now, at the Millennium, the community looks forward to the year 2020. It has taken a powerful new approach to planning the future based on an extensive public process. This new “Values-Based Planning Approach” employed extensive citizen participation. This eight week process included an active dialogue between over 375 residents and city officials in search of commonly held values.

Results of Vision 2020 include:

• An Overall Vision 2020 Mission Statement for the future written by Citizen Delegates.
• 15 Citizen Based Themes with Mission Statements and Desired Outcomes for the future.

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• A City Framework of Neighborhoods, Centers and Corridors with Action Items derived from the Citizen Based Themes.
• A Desire and Commitment to Ensure the Vision through a continuing process that includes the voices and thoughts of the entire community.

This summary is intended to provide the citizens of St. Petersburg an overview of Vision 2020, and an invitation to be involved in this ongoing process. For more information, visit the City’s website at http://www.stpete.org or contact the planning department, One 4th Street North, St. Petersburg, Florida.

Overall Mission Statement as identified by Vision 2020 Delegates

St. Petersburg is a vibrant, cosmopolitan community in which to live, play, learn and work. All of its citizens, neighborhoods and businesses collaborate in its development.

St. Petersburg maintains its unique sense of place and economic vitality while preserving its history, diversity and lush natural beauty. St. Petersburg provides a safe, clean sustainable environment with a spectacular waterfront to be enjoyed by all of its residents and visitors.

2.2 CITIZEN BASED THEMES

These Citizen Based Themes enable the act of City planning to become dynamic.

Quantitative approaches to planning succeed in accomplishing desired standards, but they can leave the community with an undesirable built condition. A qualitative approach based on Values and Themes, proactively directs decisions toward the desired outcomes of place. The relationship between decisions and results become clear as every action can be evaluated against indicators of success - does this action support the Themes? This Values-based system will require new ways of thinking as different approaches to existing standards and planning concepts may be necessary to achieve the desired outcome.

The Community also envisioned the physical places where implementation of the Citizen Based Themes would take place. All areas of the peninsula are now urbanized and the City has become a more dynamic and complex place than the resort community first described by John Nolen in 1923. After more than 100 years of development, St. Petersburg is truly a City that has become “built out.” Little “raw land” sites are now available for growth. Rather, the City must look inward to redevelopment and reinvestment. A discussion of the basic existing physical structure of the community led to a City Framework with specific actions designed to:

• Strengthen and protect the unique character of existing urban and suburban Neighborhoods consistent with the Citizen Based Themes.

• Redevelop, enhance, and intensify mixed used Development Corridors and mixed use Centers as improved community places consistent with the Themes. The Themes and Framework were summarized by the participants in a global Vision Statement for the City

Chapter Two, Vision Element City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

in the year 2020. It is unusual that so many people would come together to clearly state their committed desire to build a better community.

Quality of Life Mission Statement:

St. Petersburg will ensure its future as an outstanding community to live, work, play and learn. This qualitative approach will form a model sustainable city that achieves social, environmental and economic fairness and mutual success. The best traditions of the City shall be preserved and enhanced while creating new traditions and a strengthened quality of life for all.

Likes:

Unique Sense of Place, Diversity, Neighborhood Identity, Sense of Urban and Natural Beauty, Small Town/Family Focus, Historic Preservation, Neighborhood friendly schools, Celebration of Community, Access to the waterfront.

Dislikes:

Poorly Performing Schools, Crime in some areas, Sprawl Areas, Lack of Community Centers or Park Activities, Adult Businesses, Inferiority Complex with Tampa.

Results of a successful 2020 Vision Include:

• Enhancement of historic themes.
• Strengthened and enhanced neighborhoods.
• Protected and enhanced waterfront.
• High quality schools.
• Renewed commitment to arts and cultural programs.
• New partnerships with mixed and shared uses.
• Reduced bureaucracy.
• Community of choice to live, work, play and learn.

Appearance Mission Statement:

St. Petersburg is a beautiful subtropical city. Our streets and public spaces are our shared public space. Future development will result in quality and function of architecture, landscape, signage, lighting, streets, and street furniture. All members of our community shall take pride in maintaining their property and share in creating a pleasing visual environment.

Likes:

Historic buildings and neighborhoods, large trees, neighborhood markers, small brick streets and hex pavers, adaptive re-use of quality old buildings, city street tree planting program.

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Dislikes:

Visual blight, especially associated with many large roads, extensive asphalt parking without trees, unattractive newspaper boxes and bus stops, sign proliferation, destruction of historic buildings, loss of brick streets and hex pavers, poor design of new buildings and development, vacant/unkempt properties, code violations, openly visible public power plants and roadway utilities.

Results of a successful 2020 Vision Include:

• Beautiful buildings and roads.
• Renewed St. Petersburg ‘traditions’ such as brick streets, hex pavers, decorative lamps, street trees, and unique/local architecture.
• Revised/renewed commitment to appropriate codes and standards of design for architecture, signage, landscape and site planning to ensure quality and beauty.
• Incentives to encourage beautification.
• Reduced road widths to enhance appearance and pedestrian feeling.

Neighborhoods Mission Statement:

St. Petersburg will have beautiful, strong, healthy and safe neighborhoods. The neighborhood unit shall be the basic building block for social equity and shared enjoyment of St. Petersburg's unique quality of life. The distinct character of each neighborhood shall be recognized, and each neighborhood shall have a voice and be protected and enhanced as the city continues to evolve.

Likes:

Historic designs, diversity of choices, affordability, new construction/reinvestment complementing surroundings, large trees, neighborhood markers, small brick streets and hex paver sidewalks, adaptive re-use of quality old buildings.

Dislikes:

Impacts of large commercial development, neglect of poor neighborhoods, lack of quality affordable housing, disconnection from schools and programs, high crime in some areas, dilapidated/vacant structures, lack of proximate grocery/daily needs shopping, neighborhoods sharply divided by large roads.

Results of a successful 2020 Vision Include:

• Stable, safe and successful neighborhoods for everyone.
• Protection from large commercial development.
• Locally based businesses with neighborhood needs.
• Strong relationship to parks, neighborhood schools and community buildings.
• Variety of quality housing choices within neighborhoods.
• Quality neighborhood revitalization/reinvestment.

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Education Mission Statement:

St. Petersburg will be a community of life long learning. Schools shall be the centers of neighborhood life, providing parks, recreation, community center, day care, mentoring, and high quality learning opportunities for all. Educational facilities are viewed as social assets to which citizens feel positively connected.

Likes:

Grandeur of older buildings, quality of education in some schools, community participation of USF and other institutions.

Dislikes:

Schools undervalued asset, lack of maintenance/disrepair of many older schools, location of new schools on large roads, disconnection between neighborhoods and student body, poor appearance of new schools, portables, inability to access schools for community use.

Results of a successful 2020 Vision Include:

• A system of beautiful neighborhood and community schools, safely accessible by car, bicycle or foot.
• Joint use recreation opportunities after school. Education and activities.
• Child care and mentoring programs.

Economic Development Mission Statement:

St. Petersburg shall be a community of economic diversity, strength and self-sufficiency, resulting in a growth economy. Mixed use centers shall be vital with service, professional and technology businesses that provide economic stability. All areas of the city make meaningful and stable economic contributions as well as manifesting a beautiful built environment. Economic initiatives shall be prioritized and executed based on creating partnerships and social equity.

Likes:

Recent downtown reinvestment, active downtown after 5 PM, new housing choices such as renovated apartments and new townhomes, city incentives to local businesses, city assistance to local artists, low unemployment, tourism, unique identity from Tampa.

Dislikes:

Lack of progress in some areas, too many low paying jobs, not enough higher paying jobs, abandoned shopping centers, lack of clear city plan for many key areas such as downtown, inferiority complex with Tampa.

Results of a successful 2020 Vision Include:

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• Long range comprehensive redevelopment strategy that identifies the economic landscape, future opportunities, and marketing approaches.
• Develop diverse and independent economic base.
• Re-emergence of locally owned/niche business districts.
• Socio/cultural/economic integration.
• Center and Corridor’ re-investment – residential and commercial mixed use.
• Successful Southside reinvestment.
• Economically successful arts community.

Arts & Culture Mission Statement:

St. Petersburg is a city where arts and culture are integral to the daily lives of residents and visitors. The arts are experienced in public spaces throughout the City and are integral to planning, design, zoning, infrastructure, transportation and other development. The City is committed to the development of art activities, experiences, and programs that are economically and physically accessible and that appeal to diverse ages and communities. The City is committed to the expansion and support of its library system as a cultural resource.

Likes:

Diverse offering of museum, theater and cultural experiences, recent start-up artist spaces, civic events.

Dislikes:

Lack of regular museum hours, continued financial struggles of many artists and theaters, lack of visible art throughout city, lack of support or inclusion of local artists in many public or private projects, lack of recognition of art/culture as economic engine, lack of incorporation of art into public projects such as Pinellas Trail.

Results of a successful 2020 Vision Include:

• Consistent community involvement/use of cultural facilities and programs.
• A city of visible art and lively culture.
• Financial stability and sustainable funding through city actions, private partners and art institutions.
• City commitment to cultural programs and inclusion of art in capital improvement efforts.
• Sufficient and appropriate facilities.
• Integration of arts with education system.
• Develop a public art master plan.

Transportation Mission Statement:

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St. Petersburg will have a livable balance of connected transportation options for all of its citizens. Pedestrian and bicycle facilities shall be designed, encouraged and celebrated as indicators of a healthy city. Public transit shall be sensitive to the context of neighborhoods and integrated into future economic and development plans.

Likes:

City plan/grid system, alleys, pedestrian scale of many areas, compact downtown core, proximity to airports and seaports, trolley buses.

Dislikes:

Lack of quality public transportation, plain ‘big box’ buses in neighborhoods, large bus exhaust, one way streets, paving over brick streets & removal of hexagonal pavers, unsafe/unsightly corridors such as US 19/34th Street, traffic congestion.

Results of a successful 2020 Vision Include:

• ‘Pedestrian first’ design.
• Balance of auto, bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
• Enhanced public/multi-modal transportation.
• Reduced one-way streets.
• Traffic calming.
• Examination of I-175 and I-375 spurs for possible redesign or reduction in length.
• Safe access for children to schools and parks.
• Reduced mandatory requirements for accommodating the automobile.
• A great public transit system that everyone can access in all areas of the city and region.
• A great public transit system that enhances the property values and quality of life in the areas in which it runs.
• A beautiful network of streets with canopy trees, bricks and hexagonal paver sidewalks.

Social Equity Mission Statement:

St. Petersburg will achieve fairness and equality for its citizens. All races and cultures will be celebrated, enjoying their diversity, and participating and claiming ownership in the process of building community. All citizens shall have an equal opportunity to enjoy the physical, social and economic benefits of St. Petersburg; and there shall be a relationship of trust and respect between all citizens and their governance structures.

Likes:

Diversity of people and cultures, variety of neighborhood choices, recent planning/investment efforts into Southside.

Dislikes:

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Perception that north side is favored over south side neighborhoods, Dome and other impacts to historic Southside neighborhoods, lack of community infrastructure in Southside, lack of minority owned businesses, slow progress in racial integration, number of homeless not receiving assistance, unequal tax assessment.

Results of a successful 2020 Vision Include:

• A city of strong neighborhoods, each with a neighborhood plan.
• Consistent neighborhood assets such as parks and calm streets.
• A civic realm that helps instill pride and individual sense of community.
• Accelerate quality affordable housing programs.
• Improved citizen involvement, police assistance and positive media regarding Southside successes.
• Celebration of cultures and culturally specific events, pride in the diversity of the Southside and other areas of the city.
• Create more diverse and economically accessible downtown housing.
• Support economically integrated housing.
• Successful locally owned businesses and support/assistance for minority owned businesses.
• New elderly and homeless programs.
• Outreach to distressed areas and encouragement to participate and succeed in building community.

Human & Social Services Mission Statement:

St. Petersburg will be a community of physical, mental and spiritual well-being. All members of the community will have community systems they can access to help themselves find stability and improve their situation. No person shall be without hope.

Likes:

YMCA and area hospitals/health organizations, outreach programs, business mentoring programs and other partnerships with schools, homeless shelters.

Dislikes:

High crime and drug use areas, concentrated areas of homeless, lack of day care and after school activities/mentoring, limited assistance programs in many areas, citizens in many areas of city not utilizing available programs.

Results of a successful 2020 Vision Include:

• Increased sense of community.
• Increased availability of services - especially medical and childcare.
• Increased literacy and adult education.
• Increased per capita income.

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• Increased outreach to provide assistance to everyone who wants it.
• Local control of education, pride in schools and values of education.
• New partnerships with local businesses and government.
• Decrease in drug use and crime.

Parks & Leisure Mission Statement:

St. Petersburg will be a community of parks dedicated to the purposes of rest, reflection, recreation and social interaction. Parks shall be easily accessible to everyone and they shall be interlinked through a system of tree - canopied sidewalks, bikeways, greenways, waterways when present, and trails that provide connectivity and a sense of place and identity to all areas of the city. The park system shall promote responsiveness to each neighborhood and citizen need, and shall provide beauty and meaning through art, ornament, education, environmental demonstration, and well-maintained garden architecture and recreational facilities.

Likes:

Cultural and special events, museums, parks and Pinellas Trail.

Dislikes:

Poorly amenitized parks, loss of public access to waterfront, new Pier buildings, poor access to trail and parks, limited public art in the community, lack of quality neighborhood parks in some areas of the City.

Results of a successful 2020 Vision Include:

• Beautiful parks and trails system.
• Easy pedestrian access to parks and trails, parks and community centers serving all neighborhoods and children.
• Parks serving diverse user groups.
• Inclusion of canals and re-opened drainage ways in citywide parks and open space system, including Booker Creek.
• Public art programs included in all parks.
• Acquisition programs for future/retrofit parks.
• A citywide parks master plan that provides hierarchy of neighborhood, community and regional parks accessible through an interconnected system of bikeways, trails and greenways.

Natural Environment Mission Statement:

St. Petersburg will be a model of sustainable living. St. Petersburg will protect and enhance the natural systems that provide the resources of land, air, water, and vegetation. St. Petersburg will reflect an awareness of ourselves as part of a larger system upon which we are dependent for our mental, physical, spiritual and economic well-being.

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Likes:

Natural scenic beauty, waterfront accessibility, natural waterways, beaches, marina, waterfront park, Lake Maggiore, Crescent Lake, Clam Bayou, environmental features.

Dislikes:

Lack of recycling program, air quality, wasteful watering and stormwater practices, lack of natural wild space or preservation areas, polluted storm drainage canal and ponds, no clear policies or programs on best practices or pollutants, large homes backing up to waterfront, can’t fish in polluted lakes.

Results of a successful 2020 Vision Include:

• Clean environment/sustainability themes.
• Citywide natural resource inventory leading to increased restoration efforts and stand alone element in Comprehensive Plan.
• Maximize permeable surfaces and increase stormwater recharge.
• Increased funding/grants/incentives for ‘green’ design, building and practices.
• Educate the public regarding chemicals, pesticides and other pollutants.
• Build a ‘sustainable/green house’ demonstration project.
• Build an environmental/biological magnet school built with green technology.
• Xeriscape/irrigation/reclaimed water ordinances.
• Curbside recycling program.
• Cleaner water and air.
• Enhanced drainage ways creating citywide system of linear parks.

Governance Mission Statement:

St. Petersburg will have governance structures that facilitate the successful implementation of shared community values and important public interests through concise, effective and understandable laws and regulations. These governance structures support social, physical and economic fairness and mutual support. They facilitate maximum political access, empowerment to its citizens and seek to include the voices of those who are not easily heard.

Likes:

Accessibility to City Council meetings, neighborhood planning process, recent city commitment to Southside program.

Dislikes:

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Lack of political accountability, lack of citizen communication, too many exceptions and variances, difficult to work with city planning/review departments, lack of city planning-especially in downtown, takes too long to resolve problems, inadequate/inappropriate zoning and land development standards, ineffectual codes and neighborhood design review.

Results of a successful 2020 Vision Include:

• Enhanced citizen empowerment participation and input.
• Revise codes to be proactive-anticipating problems and opportunities.
• Political responsiveness/customer friendly.
• Public investment into infrastructure and schools.
• Attention to previously neglected areas.
• Streamlined government review.
• Stronger code enforcement and new standards for design to ensure the development of quality places.

Partnerships Mission Statement:

St. Petersburg will be a community of partnerships seeking opportunities for multiple use and multiple benefits. The city of partnerships takes ownership and active participation in all fundamental community values and systems. These partnerships facilitate maximum community benefit from the significant public and private investments and initiatives.

Likes:

YMCA, upcoming school choice, downtown library, trolley lines, Baywalk, Vinoy Hotel, Hope VI, Main Street, educational and health care institutions.

Dislikes:

Current school/neighborhood disconnect, perceived difficulty in developing projects, general sense of poor communication and customer service regarding public/private/civic interfaces.

Results of a successful 2020 Vision Include:

• Coordinated use of school facilities and adjacent parks.
• Increased participation with PSTA in routing, design and operation of transit lines-including discussions on future mass transit opportunities.
• Increased service from library system.
• Coordinated relationships between citizen and city in discussions with regional partners such as MPO, FDOT, PSTA, school board, and utility providers to ensure that external authorities meet the needs of the Vision.
• Enhanced marketing and business relationships between city/chamber of commerce/financial institutions/development community to build a city that meets the needs of the Vision.