Commission approves first readings to add 0.53‑acre parcel to Golden Acres mobile‑home park

The City Commission unanimously approved on first reading two ordinances changing the land use and zoning of a 0.53‑acre vacant parcel at 1050 Main Street so it will match and be unified with the adjacent Golden Acres Mobile Home Park.

Ordinance 25‑08 amends the city future land‑use map from Retail & Services to Residential Low‑Medium (RLM). Ordinance 25‑09 rezones the parcel from Form‑Based Medium (FXM) to Mobile Home (MH). City staff and the applicant said the lot is landlocked and historically residential; the applicants—Golden Acres Homeowners Association—intend to treat the parcel as common area for the coop and have no immediate plan to add additional home sites. Staff noted the requested change is a downzoning in density (R&S allows higher density and commercial uses; RLM limits residential density) and found the requests consistent with local code and Forward Pinellas requirements. The Local Planning Agency had recommended both ordinances unanimously on Sept. 10.

Attorney Jonathan DeBont, representing the Golden Acres homeowners association, explained the parcel was historically the Hardins’ house (built 1963), later owned by a REIT, and then purchased by the residents under Florida’s mobile‑home cooperative provisions; the house on the parcel was demolished in 2022. DeBont and the homeowners association said the land will be used for green space, amenities or overflow parking as common area and that adding new home pads would require unanimous consent of homeowners and is not planned.

If approved at second reading, staff will forward the land‑use amendment to Forward Pinellas and the county planning authority; the two ordinances will return to the commission for second/final readings after the county process is complete.

Both first‑reading motions passed unanimously.