Planning board member pushes for clearer staff summaries after applicant criticism

Member Perry told the St. Pete Beach Planning Board on May 19, 2025 that she had placed an item on the agenda after an applicant at a recent City Commission meeting repeatedly accused the board of failure.

"The applicant was trying to persuade a certain view. But, his direct words were that the planning board completely failed in their duties," Member Perry said. "So, basically, my conclusion was that he truly did not meet the requirements and that we were right on target."

Perry said she reviewed the minutes, compared board comments to the City's Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code, and contacted Lisa (the official who appointed her) and the city manager to flag the public criticism. She told the board the presentation slide staff provided to the commission omitted a clear statement that the project did not meet the comp plan or code and instead emphasized other items such as pedestrian safety.

The board discussed whether staff could provide the slides or a summary to Planning Board members before the commission agenda is published so the board could confirm that staff accurately represents its advisory findings. "If, if nothing else, I could send it out prior to the meeting," Brandon (planning staff) said, offering to distribute the staff slide when time allows.

Board members said the minutes were accurate but that the slide format used at the commission meeting compressed the board's core conclusion — that the project in the Gulf Boulevard Redevelopment District did not meet code — into smaller bullet points. The board raised the idea of a brief review step for staff summaries to reduce public confusion when applicants address the commission.

No formal action or vote was taken. The board chair and staff agreed to a practice of sharing staff slides or summaries with board members before the commission presentation when timing allows; staff indicated it could do so within existing deadlines for agenda processing.

Perry also noted the upcoming virtual webinar on the Corey Landings conditional-use permit (CUP) scheduled for May 29 at 5:30 p.m.; staff said the event notice will be posted to the city website.