Pinellas Park council denies waiver to remove invasive Brazilian pepper trees at 6901 Park Boulevard

Pinellas Park City Council on Oct. 23 denied a request for a landscape waiver that would have let a developer keep Brazilian pepper trees on a triangular portion of property at 6901 Park Boulevard instead of removing the prohibited species during development.

Todd Byron, the city's senior planner, presented the waiver request (WAV-0825-0023) and concluded the request did not meet the landscape-waiver criteria in the land development code. Byron told the council that Brazilian pepper is an invasive species that spreads aggressively and that the requested waiver “could cause adverse impacts on the neighboring properties in the future” if the plants are not maintained.

Salvatore de Pallas, an engineer representing the applicant, said the area in question is difficult to access. He described a 20-foot-wide, concrete-lined stormwater channel that flanks two sides of the triangular wedge and said heavy equipment could not safely or practically reach the vegetation without constructing a large temporary crossing or culvert. De Pallas proposed that the developer clear and maintain the reachable areas, install a six-foot PVC fence along the warehouse side of the ditch, and return to the council if additional work were necessary after stormwater or city projects.

Councilmembers debated whether the area is entirely concrete-lined and whether temporary access across the city's conveyance easement could be constructed, with staff noting some portions appear clear and others overgrown. Several council members expressed concern about leaving an invasive species in place where seeds or debris could travel downstream during storms.

Councilmember Seville moved to deny WAV-0825-0023. After discussion and a roll-call, the motion to deny carried unanimously. The clerk recorded yes votes by Mister Sebelle, Miss Reid, Mister Butler and Mayor Sandra Lee Bradbury; one council member was absent that night. The denial means the applicant must remove the invasive trees in accordance with the city's landscape regulations or return with a revised plan.

Why it matters: Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) is listed by staff as a prohibited species in the city's land development code because of its aggressiveness and potential to affect neighboring properties and stormwater conveyance. The council's denial preserves the code requirement and signals that access difficulties alone were not sufficient to waive removal in this case.

Next steps: staff and the applicant discussed a limited approach for immediate compliance — clearing invasive vegetation along the accessible side of the ditch and improving the fence line — and the applicant said he would work with the city to complete the remaining items needed for final certification. The council recorded an option for the applicant to return if it obtains additional access or if the city schedules stormwater improvements that change the site’s access constraints.