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Pinellas Park council adopts three land‑development code amendments, tightening soil‑removal rules
Summary
The City of Pinellas Park approved three amendments to the land‑development code on second reading — defining and encouraging low‑impact development, restoring visibility‑triangle diagrams, and lowering the soil‑removal permit threshold from 250 to 5 cubic yards — each passed unanimously.
The Pinellas Park City Council voted unanimously to adopt three changes to the city’s land‑development code during its regular meeting.
Senior planner Bob Bernhardt presented the items on second and final reading as LDC (land development code) amendments. Ordinance 2025‑05 would add a definition of "low impact development" (LID) and encourage use of LID practices that mimic natural processes for stormwater management; Bernhardt said the amendment is non‑mandatory and consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan and NPDES considerations. Council members asked whether LID techniques could be used in residential, commercial and industrial contexts and were told the text is intended to provide an option for developers and residents, not to change existing requirements.
On visibility at intersections, Ordinance 2025‑06 would add diagrams illustrating required visibility triangles and update related language so the diagrams are again available to contractors and residents. Bernhardt said the diagrams were previously in code and had been omitted during an earlier update; the ordinance also clarifies that references to rights‑of‑way include both public and private areas.
The council also approved Ordinance 2025‑07, which reduces the amount of soil a property owner may remove without a separate permit from 250 cubic yards to 5 cubic yards and aligns removal rules with existing fill limits. Bernhardt said the change streamlines permitting by allowing routine fill/removal associated with other development permits to be handled through the building‑permit process, though he noted that at the Planning & Zoning meeting on 01/02/2025 P&Z had recommended denial of this case.
Council members moved and seconded the motions for each ordinance; each passed on second and final reading with the record noting the motions "carried unanimously." No roll‑call tallies were read aloud on the floor.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2025‑05 — Low Impact Development (LID): adopted (second reading). Motion: pass ordinance 2025‑05 on second and final reading. Mover: Council member Boatman. Outcome: approved (motion carried unanimously; tally not specified). Ordinance 2025‑06 — Visibility triangles: adopted (second reading). Motion: pass ordinance 2025‑06 on second and final reading. Outcome: approved (motion carried unanimously; tally not specified). Ordinance 2025‑07 — Soil removal requirements (reduce no‑permit threshold to 5 cubic yards): adopted (second reading). Motion: pass ordinance 2025‑07 on second and final reading. Mover: Councilwoman Reid. Outcome: approved (motion carried unanimously; tally not specified).
The council meeting record shows the amendments are intended as code cleanups and clarifications in addition to the soil‑removal change; records of Planning & Zoning recommendations are noted in staff presentations but the council exercised its legislative discretion in adopting the measures. The council did not schedule additional hearings for these items; the ordinances were adopted on second reading at this meeting.
