Pinellas LPA backs land‑use and zoning changes for Ignite Academy site in East Lake Tarpon

The Pinellas County Local Planning Agency on Oct. 8 recommended approval of a future‑land‑use amendment (FLU25.08) and a zoning atlas amendment (ZON25.07) to accommodate a proposed K–8 private school, Ignite Academy, at 2271 Keystone Road in East Lake Tarpon.

Scott Swearingen, long‑range planner for Pinellas County, told the board that staff considers the change from Residential Rural to Institutional and from Residential Agricultural to Limited Institutional appropriate given the site’s Keystone Road frontage, surrounding institutional uses and the East Lake Tarpon community overlay. Swearingen said the property is about 5.23 acres, “not in our coastal high hazard area” and therefore carries low flood risk. He gave a high‑level traffic estimate that the land‑use change could add about 570 daily trips but emphasized a detailed traffic study would be required at site‑plan review.

The applicant’s team said the request is largely a procedural step because the property’s size (0.23 acres over a five‑acre threshold) requires a map amendment rather than a type‑2 Board of Adjustment review. Brian Ungst, attorney for the applicant, introduced a conceptual plan showing a two‑story building with a 20,000‑square‑foot footprint (about 40,000 total square feet across two floors), onsite parking and extensive buffering. Ungst said Ignite Academy currently enrolls about 135 students from 75 families and has no school buses. “This use is already permitted given the current land use and zoning,” Ungst said, calling the amendment “a technicality” to allow a cohesive plan for a site of this size.

Neighbors who oppose the change warned of privacy loss, added noise and safety risks where site access would cross the Pinellas Trail. Adjacent resident Linda Van Dam said she circulated petitions and showed photographs of the proximity to her home, adding, “We move to the country for peace and quiet and we’re against it.” Mark Washburn, president of saveeastlake.org, cited trail crossing safety and questioned whether a large building would be compatible with two‑acre residential lots nearby.

Applicant engineers and the school’s operator responded to concerns by describing setbacks, a planned five‑foot buffer and a six‑foot opaque fence along certain property lines, and reiterating that on‑site queuing could contain morning drop‑off. Kurt Heinrichs, civil engineer, said the conceptual site included roughly 80 parking spaces — “20 more than we’d be required by code” — and that county‑required buffering for recreational or athletic areas would be provided if such facilities are developed.

The board’s discussion focused on procedural distinctions (a type‑2 use process versus a land‑use amendment for sites over five acres) and whether site‑plan review would adequately address trail crossing, traffic and drainage. After deliberation, the LPA made a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners: approve FLU25.08 and approve ZON25.07 (motions were made and seconded; the board recorded aye votes and the motions passed). The County Commission will consider the items at its Nov. 18 public hearing.

The recommendation does not approve a site plan. Staff and applicants said site‑plan review and any required traffic studies, drainage work and buffering will be conducted if the County Commission ultimately adopts the LPA’s recommendation.