Pinellas LPA backs land‑use and zoning changes for Ignite Academy site on Keystone Road

The Pinellas County Local Planning Agency on Oct. 8 recommended approval of companion land‑use and zoning changes to allow Ignite Academy to relocate to a 5.23‑acre property at 2271 Keystone Road in East Lake Tarpon.

Scott Swearingen, long‑range planner for Pinellas County, told the board the staff finds the proposed future‑land‑use amendment (FLU25.08) from Residential Rural to Institutional and the zoning atlas amendment (ZON25.07) from Residential Agricultural to Limited Institutional appropriate and consistent with the county comprehensive plan. Swearingen noted the parcel is not in a coastal storm or high‑hazard area and reported a high‑level trip‑generation estimate of up to 570 additional vehicle trips per day if the site were developed to the most intensive institutional use; he said a detailed traffic study will be required at the site‑plan stage.

Brian Ungst, attorney for the applicant, said the land‑use change is largely a technical step because the site is 0.23 acres larger than the county’s five‑acre threshold that would otherwise require a Type‑2 special‑use review. “This use is already permitted given the current land use and zoning,” Ungst said, adding that Ignite Academy is a small, low‑enrollment private school with about 135 students and 75 families and that there will be no buses or competitive sports at the site.

Ignite Academy representative Justin Gingrich described the school’s operations: “Drop off is currently 8:25 to 8:40 in the morning. Pickup is 3:20 to 3:35. There are no buses. Transportation is provided by the families.” Kurt Heinrichs, the applicant’s civil engineer, said the conceptual plan shows roughly 80 parking spaces and a stormwater pond that would connect to the county drainage system; he said the applicant proposes retaining existing trees and providing buffering and setbacks to reduce impacts on neighbors.

Nearby residents told the board they oppose the change. Linda Van Dam, who said she canvassed 63 neighbors against the project, displayed photographs of adjacent property lines and said the proposed 40,000‑square‑foot building would “invade my privacy, my happiness,” and increase traffic and safety risks at the Pinellas Trail crossing. Mark Washburn, president of saveeastlake.org, cited the property’s direct frontage on the Pinellas Trail and questioned ingress/egress safety.

Ungst and staff repeatedly told the board that many of the neighbors’ operational concerns — trail buffering, driveway design, drainage, parking and lighting — are addressed during detailed site‑plan review and the Type‑2/Board of Adjustment process if the land use were not changed. Ungst asked the board to confirm the staff recommendation and forward approval to the Board of County Commissioners.

The Local Planning Agency approved the future‑land‑use amendment and the associated zoning change and forwarded both items to the County Commission for a public hearing scheduled on Nov. 18, 2025.