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Largo staff pitches comprehensive-development-code changes to implement Clearwater Largo Road and West Bay Drive CRD plans
Summary
City planners outlined CDC amendments to implement two CRD updates, proposing new character districts, incentives to concentrate redevelopment downtown, a low-base/high-bonus approach to control outcomes, and a tentative adoption timeline through Feb. 2026.
City planning staff presented proposed amendments Aug. 12 to the comprehensive development code (CDC) intended to implement adopted updates to the Clearwater Largo Road and West Bay Drive Community Redevelopment District (CRD) plans.
Alicia Parrinello and principal planner Jared Austin said the changes implement recommendations from the Advantage Alt 19 corridor study and the recently adopted CRD plans. Major components include new and revised character districts (mixed-use corridor; mixed-use quarter Alt 19; flex employment), incentives for structured/shared parking, base and bonus density/FAR tables, and a staff recommendation to set conservative base densities with higher bonuses tied to public benefits so the city can shape the type of development it attracts.
Staff said they omitted a hard cap on building height for the Clearwater Largo Road expansion to maintain redevelopment flexibility but will provide consultant-recommended height ranges in backup material (staff noted consultant-recommended maximums up to eight stories). West Bay Drive updates include a minimum two-story requirement for most character districts, additional allowable uses such as accessory dwelling units and small sit-down restaurants, and changes to remove overlapping DMACC standards inside CRD boundaries.
Commissioners asked for more detail on parking, impact-fee interactions, flood/stormwater infrastructure capacity, undergrounding utilities as an incentive, and the specific density- and bonus-trigger tables; staff agreed to provide the backing figures and show the consultant's height recommendations. Staff outlined the public process and timeline: county review in October, advisory board hearings, and a target adoption by February 2026.
Next steps: staff to return with specific FAR/height tables, parking standards, and bonus triggers for further review and public hearings.
