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Public hearing set on proposed county charter amendment
By SUZETTE PORTER
Article published on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 |
CLEARWATER – The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on July 22 to schedule public hearings regarding a proposed ordinance to amend the Pinellas County Charter and county code relating to environmental lands.
The proposed ordinance to amend the charter would require referendum approval and, if the board decides to go forward, would come before the voters during the Nov. 4 election.
While the ballot language is still fairly vague, as pointed out by Board Chairman Robert Stewart, the jest of the intent is to require voter approval to remove the environmental lands designation on county-owned environmental lands of one acre or more. Voter approval also would be required to sell, convey or transfer any simple interest of any land designated as environmental.
The board would retain the responsibility to remove the designation on environmental lands of less than one acre. The board also would retain the responsibility of adding environmental land designations per charter requirements.
Accompanying code changes would specify existing land designated as environmental, including management areas and preserves that would be subject to the charter limitations. The companion ordinance includes maps that show the boundaries of lands designated environmental and other requirements.
The maps show 19 areas currently designated as environmental lands, including Allen’s Creek Management Area, Alligator Lake Management Area; Anclote Islands Management Area, Brooker Creek Preserve, Cabbage Key Management Area, Joe’s Creek Management Area, Lake Seminole Management Area, Shell Key Preserve and Weedon Island Preserve.
The hearing is scheduled on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 9:30 a.m., in the fifth floor Assembly Room of the County Courthouse, 315 Court St. in Clearwater.
The board asked Assistant County Attorney Dennis Long to continue working on the ballot language to make it easier to understand.
“The ballot language is not descriptive of the intent,” Stewart said. “A lot of people are very emotional and involved in this issue. Someone has to interpret this language for the voter.”
Long said he would continue to focus on clarification of the ballot language and that when it came back before the board during the Aug. 5 public hearing it would be as “clear as an edge of blue sky.”
The board acting as the countywide planning authority also will hold a public hearing on a proposed amendment to update traffic generation rates used to evaluate potential traffic impacts of proposed Countywide Map amendments and other uses. The amendment was unanimously approved by the Pinellas Planning Council on June 18.
The board also agreed to advertise public hearings on a proposed ordinance establishing a countywide inclusionary housing program. The hearing dates are Aug. 19 and Oct. 7.
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Article published on Tuesday, July 29, 2008
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