St. Pete Beach planning board backs ordinance to regulate event lighting, protect nesting turtles and shorebirds

The St. Pete Beach Planning Board on Jan. 26 recommended approval of Ordinance 2025-16, a rewrite of the city's coastal lighting and wildlife protections that would allow special events during marine turtle nesting season only when transient (event) lighting is submitted as part of a special-event lighting plan and meets long-wavelength, low-mounted and shielded standards.

City staff presented the draft ordinance, saying it renames Land Development Code Division 44 to "Marine Turtle and Coastal Wildlife Protection," updates technical standards, clarifies responsibilities for new and existing development and special events, and aligns with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Fish and Wildlife Commission best practices. The ordinance also updates definitions and enforcement provisions.

Residents and wildlife experts told the board the changes are needed. Deborah Schechner of Bogosaga Isle Drive warned that a planned three-day country music festival and large crowds risk disrupting nesting turtles and shorebirds and said property owners who have resisted lighting changes should not be allowed to continue that practice. A local steward described a video showing black skimmer colonies flushing during fireworks, saying chicks and eggs are at risk when colonies react to bright, sudden lights.

Representatives from the Sea Turtle Conservancy and the National Wildlife Federation supported the proposed approach but acknowledged enforcement is difficult for transient and handheld light sources. "Regulating transient lighting so it's on the books communicates that it is not acceptable to point lighting in a way that disturbs turtles," said Stacy Allager of the Sea Turtle Conservancy. Katie Mastenbrooke of the National Wildlife Federation encouraged limits on event timing, notice, size and duration to reduce impacts.

Board members asked whether vegetation or barriers could screen existing compliant lighting and whether staff had the equipment and training to measure wavelengths. Staff said existing compliant fixtures can be screened by property-level vegetation or barriers in some cases; newly installed lighting would need to meet the long-wavelength, low-mounted and shielded standard and the city has a meter and trained code staff for more complex events.

After questions and public comment, a board member moved to recommend the ordinance to the City Commission and to find it consistent with the comprehensive plan. The motion passed on a unanimous roll call vote.

Next steps: The Planning Board's recommendation goes to the St. Pete Beach City Commission for final action. The ordinance packet and staff responses to the stakeholder meeting noted in the hearing will be provided to the commission for their review.