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County comes to aid of tourist lodging
Public hearings slated on regulations to increase density for motels, hotels
By BOB MACPHERSON
Article published on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007 |
ST. PETE BEACH – There may be help coming for the hotel-motel industry in Pinellas County. If adopted, two proposed rule changes, scheduled for August public hearings, will level the playing field, allowing hotels to be more competitive with condos.
Basically, two versions of a proposed ordinance would allow for increased density for temporary lodging, hotels and motels.
“If we want to retain tourist facilities in the face of condo buildups we have to make it equivalent in terms of investment for hotels,” said Jerry Knight, vice mayor of North Redington Beach and member of the Pinellas Planning Council. “The council was established to develop countywide plans for what, why and where things can be built and how they can be used,” he said.
Knight gave the Barrier Islands Governmental Council an update July 25 on the proposed changes. He also made a pitch for the Planning Council as a valuable help to municipalities in preparing comprehensive land use plans.
In January, the PPC approved proposed amendments to the countywide rules to help hotels and motels remain competitive with residential condo redevelopment. Temporary lodging densities up to 125 units per acre would be allowed in some land use categories if certain conditions are met. The Board of County Commissioners will hold public hearings on the proposed new rules on Aug. 7 at 9:30 a.m. and Aug. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
According to the Pinellas County Web site, the tourism industry has lost almost 5,000 hotel and motel rooms over the past few years to condo development. The new rules are expected to encourage the development of new hotels, which are vital to the continued economic well-being of the county.
Knight said Pinellas County is virtually built out and needed a more diversified economic base to realize its full potential.
“We are redeveloping, not developing,” Knight said. “St. Petersburg recognized this and made a lot of decisions related to that. We have a whole new category of land use directed to redevelopment, which could be adopted by any municipality.”
Knight said that the beach communities directly benefit with the density changes for hotel-motel development.
“It sets an opportunity for municipalities to do things. While the focus may be on the beaches, other places would benefit by an increase in density,” he said.
Knight highlighted the Pinellas by Design plan, a five year countywide economic development and redevelopment plan. The plan took several years to complete due to an ambitious outreach program to get input from municipalities and residents. The plan identifies actions needed to assure future economic prosperity and high quality of life for all of Pinellas County’s residents.
Knight said consultants were hired to analyze the supply and demand of industrial land in the county to see if it measures up to the objectives of Pinellas by Design. The consultants determined that the county is not in the proper balance and needs to set up mixed use categories.
Knight said it is important to set design standards to make the county attractive to industries and residents. The council also reviews land use change proposals to assure consistency to make sure local and county plans are consistent.
Knight said the council is always under pressure to ensure its recommendations are economically acceptable.
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Article published on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007
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