Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Safety Harbor adopts zoning changes to comply with Florida's Live Local Act; commissioners voice concern over state preemption
Summary
Safety Harbor adopted Ordinance 2025‑O‑5 on Oct. 20 to amend its zoning code for compliance with Florida's Live Local Act.
The Safety Harbor City Commission on Oct. 20 adopted Ordinance 2025‑O‑5, amending Article 13, Section 240 of the city's zoning and land development code to implement provisions of Florida's Live Local Act.
Carol Strickland, the city's community development director, read staff's report and told the commission the ordinance was before them for its second reading and that staff recommended adoption. "This was heard on first reading on Oct. 6 and staff recommends adoption on second reading. There have been no changes since the first reading," Strickland said.
Multiple commissioners and members of the public criticized the Live Local Act during public comment, saying the state law limited local authority over land-use decisions near the Community Redevelopment Area and potentially allowed state-authorized development proposals to bypass local public votes. A resident addressing the commission said the city could be required to accept projects within a one-mile radius of the downtown CRA and warned of dense apartment projects along State Road 590.
Commissioners acknowledged their objections to the statute but said codifying the state law was a legal obligation and a strategic move to put the city in the best position for future challenges. The commission moved to adopt the ordinance on second reading and called the roll; the ordinance was adopted as read.
What it means: Under the ordinance the city adopts procedural changes required by state statute so the city manager and staff can process qualifying Live Local applications in compliance with state law. Commissioners emphasized their dislike of state preemption but said adopting the ordinance would put Safety Harbor in compliance and preserve administrative standing while other groups pursue remedies at the state level.
Provenance (transcript evidence): The ordinance title and reading appear at 00:12:56 (transcript starting 776.625) and the motion to adopt is in the record at 00:21:22 (transcript starting 1282.52).
