Planning board recommends changes to stair, equipment and accessory-structure rules for elevated homes

At its Oct. 20 meeting, the St. Pete Beach Planning Board, sitting as the Local Planning Agency, voted unanimously to recommend approval with modifications of Ordinance 2025-21, a draft zoning amendment package that would change rules for stair encroachments, equipment elevation, accessory structures and nonconforming residential buildings.

The ordinance package was presented by planning staff member Brandon, who said the changes respond to “the most common issues encountered when we see redevelopment,” noting a surge in house elevations this year. Brandon told the board the draft standards are intended as working text the city can refine after feedback from the board and the City Commission.

Board members and staff focused discussion on several recurring issues: how far stairs may project into front yards, minimum landing dimensions, whether previously nonconforming accessory structures (gazebos, detached decks, pool covers) may remain when the primary residence is elevated, rules for small storage buildings, and whether in-place elevation of mechanical equipment is permissible.

Key elements described in staff materials and discussed by the board include: - Stair encroachments: Draft language would allow front-yard stair encroachment by right for certain elevated nonconforming homes (staff described an administrative permission to allow stairs to come forward to as little as 10 feet from the front property line in many cases). Open-base stairs would be required to meet an 80% transparency standard under the treads and landings. For new and redeveloped residences staff proposed…