CLEARWATER – The Board of Pinellas County Commissioners took the necessary steps on Nov. 17 toward redevelopment of airport property currently being used as a golf course.
Commissioners approved, 6-1, three resolutions that amend zoning classifications and land use for property that includes AIRCO golf course. Commissioner John Morroni voted no.
Noah Lagos, St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport director, said the recommendation is to use the front 10 acres as a site for a hotel and supporting businesses; 73 acres for office and mixed use; plus as additional 45 acres for aviation uses.
Lagos is the applicant for zoning and land uses changes for tracts of land located on Old Roosevelt Boulevard and 34th Street North.
Lagos said the redevelopment is necessary to meet requirements of a land grant. He said many of the military airports were turned over for civil use after the war, including the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport.
He said the grant requires that the land be used for a purpose that generates revenue for the airport. The golf course currently located on the property is not making money, Lagos said.
In addition, there is a danger that continuing to maintain the land as a golf course could be misconceived as using airport revenue for local use.
He said he did not think it would be a problem to continue to use the land as a golf course while redevelopment plans were in the works; but long term the property cannot remain as it is, he said.
“The hotel piece is important to revenue generation,” Lagos said. “It should be more profitable (than the golf course).
A number of Feather Sound residents, including representatives of the Feather Sound Alliance, who live near the proposed redevelopment, voiced concerns about the need to maintain land for a buffer zone, as well as current problems with traffic congestion in the area.
Lagos said it was likely that a portion of the land could remain wooded providing a buffer for residents of Feather Sound. He and other county officials also agreed that traffic was a problem.
Pete Yauch, director of Public Works and Transportation, said a number of road projects were planned that would alleviate much of the congestion; however, most are not slated to begin until 2011 to 2013.
Morroni said while it was a “nice gesture” to agree to leave at least a portion of the current buffer zone, traffic on Ulmerton was still a big problem – one that would just get worse if a hotel and restaurant were built in the area.
“All this (rezoning and land use changes) does is allow us to plan,” Commission Chair Calvin Harris said. “We’re not going out and building a hotel and restaurant tomorrow.”
Commissioner Ken Welch said he supported maintaining a buffer “as much as we can.” He also said he would like to see a complete master plan for the area.
County Attorney reminded commissioners that the actual development would have to be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.
“We are not masters of our own fate,” Bennett said. “The FAA will have to weigh in on whether the buffer is allowed.”
Commissioner Karen Seel responded to one resident’s statement that Indian mounds were located in the area.
“If there are Indian mounds, they can’t be touched,” she said.
Lagos said he did not think the request made by the Feather Sound residents was too much to ask.
“If the board wants to maintain the buffer, I’ll do all I can to keep the buffer,” Lagos said. “The major concern is the golf course area that has revenue potential. We have to do something.”
Lagos recommended the golf course remain open one more year; however, if it continued to lose money, he said he would probably recommend that it be closed. He said even if the golf course closed, it would continue to cost money to maintain the land.
The Florida Department of Community Affairs will review the rezoning and land use changes. The county board is expected to hear the matter again in the spring of 2010.
