Oldsmar planning board recommends 2024 concurrency test statement; members warn of traffic, pier and park-inventory issues

On March 14, the City of Oldsmar Planning Board voted to recommend that City Council adopt the city—s 2024 concurrency test statement, a report staff said assesses whether approved development can be served by existing public facilities and services.

The concurrency statement, prepared by the Planning and Redevelopment Department, summarizes capacity for transportation, potable water, wastewater, stormwater, parks and other services and recommends adoption under Article 11, Section 11.2 of the city—s Land Development Code. Michelle Wilson, a temporary planning and redevelopment staff member who presented the report, told the board that "concurrency ensures public facilities and services are available when new development occurs, preventing degradation of service levels." Staff concluded the report showed minimal citywide impacts from the developments reviewed in 2024 and recommended Council adoption.

Why it matters: Concurrency findings are used to determine whether the city can accommodate new development without degrading service levels for existing residents. The report includes data on potable and wastewater capacity, identifies at least one deficient roadway segment and documents recent planning activity and park acreage that officials said will inform Council decisions about growth and capital projects.

Key facts and staff findings - Staff said the report assessed development approvals and remaining capacities for transportation, water, sewer, solid waste, parks and drainage, and that it will be submitted to the city manager and then to City Council for adoption. - The report documents a 0.25-acre project at 3502 Tampa Road: a 440-square-foot coffee kiosk with five parking spaces and perimeter landscaping. Staff said that project was reviewed and that a traffic engineering study was produced as part of the change in use. - Citywide utilities and parks data included in the report: the city has 5,775 potable water connections and staff reported potable water is operating at about 68% of capacity; wastewater use was presented as operating at about 78.6% of capacity. The city maintains over 200 acres of parkland and a 10-mile Oldsmar trail system. - For transportation, staff identified a single deficient facility during the reporting period: Forest Lakes Boulevard between Tampa Road and State Road 580. The report uses level-of-service (LOS) thresholds and notes the city adopted the Pinellas County Mobility Management System in 2016 to supplement traditional LOS-based concurrency analyses.

Board discussion and questions Board members and residents raised several operational concerns tied to the concurrency findings rather than disputing the technical conclusions. A recurring concern centered on potential traffic impacts from the proposed coffee kiosk adjacent to an existing car wash at the Tampa Road/Oakleaf area. Board member Bob (listed in the public record without a last name) said he had observed queueing and close calls near the car wash and warned a drive-through-style kiosk could worsen the situation: "Short distance is going to back up traffic. I believe all the way on Tampa Road." Tatiana Childress, planning and redevelopment director, responded that the change in use from an ATM to the kiosk had triggered a traffic study and that the city had the study and a traffic-management plan on file. Childress said the project included cross-access easements so vehicles could enter through the adjacent car wash site if needed and that the city would monitor complaints and coordinate with the traffic engineer, public works and code enforcement if problems materialize. She added, "We required the traffic study as part of the change in use from ATM to the coffee kiosk as part of that item."

Board members also identified omissions or unclear items in the parks/inventories shown in the report. One board member noted the ice rink near Walmart and a spray park adjacent to the fire station were missing from a facilities table; staff said they would confirm with Parks and Recreation and follow up. The condition and repair status of a damaged pier came up repeatedly. Staff said the pier repair may require a different contractor and that Parks and Recreation director Chip Potts was actively looking for a contractor; staff pledged to include a status update when the report goes to Council.

Other operational questions were referred to technical staff: reclaimed-water meter replacement and capital-improvement timelines (for example, State Street ditch reconstruction and Forest Lakes Boulevard improvements) were described as Public Works projects led by engineers Daniel Simpson and Jay Sanchez, and staff said those items would be brought to Council or returned to the board with updates.

Formal action Board member (unnamed) moved that the Planning Board recommend City Council adopt the 2024 concurrency test statement in accordance with Land Development Code Article 11, Section 11.2. A second was made. The board conducted a roll call vote; recorded responses in the meeting transcript indicate unanimous support from members present. The motion passed and staff will forward the report to City Council for consideration. The board—s action was recorded as an approval to forward the statement to Council.

Distinguishing discussion from direction and decision - Discussion only: residents and board members raised anecdotal observations about queueing near the car wash, missing entries in the parks inventory and concern for sight lines at driveways; these items prompted requests for follow-up but did not change the technical conclusions in the report. - Direction/assignment: staff agreed to verify park facility listings with Parks and Recreation; to obtain and supply the traffic engineer—s report and video as requested; and to seek a status update from Parks and Recreation on the pier repair and the CIP schedule for the State Street ditch reconstruction and Forest Lakes Boulevard design. - Formal decision: the board voted to recommend that City Council adopt the 2024 concurrency test statement.

What happens next Staff will forward the concurrency test statement and the board—s recommendation to City Council; staff said they will include the board—s questions and follow-up items (park inventory verifications, pier repair status, and the traffic report for the Tampa Road site) when presenting to Council. Members were directed to contact Public Works engineer Daniel Simpson with operational complaints after the kiosk opens; staff said Simpson already has the traffic file and will coordinate any on-the-ground enforcement or engineering remedies with code enforcement and state authorities if needed.

Ending The Planning Board closed the public hearing and voted to forward the 2024 concurrency test statement to City Council with the board—s recorded recommendation and the follow-up items noted above.