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Council adopts broad LDR updates, codifies 300‑sq‑ft ADU parking exclusion
Summary
Council unanimously approved a comprehensive package of land‑development regulation (LDR) amendments (Ordinance 611‑H), including new FAR bonuses, sidewalk payment‑in‑lieu, tree‑preservation incentives and a codified 300‑square‑foot exclusion for ADU parking. Council first passed an amendment to page 50 to reflect the 300‑sq‑ft exclusion, then adopted the ordinance as amended.
St. Petersburg City Council unanimously adopted an extensive package of amendments to the city’s land‑development regulations, reading as Ordinance 611‑H in the meeting and voting to approve the ordinance as amended.
Staff presentations summarized a range of technical changes affecting NT, NS and CRT zoning districts. Scott Laurie of Development Review Services outlined key items including changes to FAR (floor area ratio) bonuses, corrections to a tree‑planting typo (feet rather than inches), new solar‑installation bonuses tied to kilowatts installed, incentives for preserving mature trees, a porch elevation bonus to better match historic scale, and clarifications for building‑height measurements in flood zones.
The package also introduced a payment‑in‑lieu option for sidewalks to fund the Transportation Department’s sidewalk master plan, refined repetitive‑design rules, and expanded where accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are permitted. A staff clarification codified an existing practice increasing the amount of square footage excluded for enclosed parking from 200 to 300 square feet; Council Member Brandy Gabbard proposed an amendment to the ordinance language to memorialize the 300‑square‑foot exclusion and the amendment passed unanimously. After additional discussion and confirming the package complies with recent state law changes (Senate Bill 180), the council voted to adopt the ordinance as amended.
Scott Laurie said the changes are intended to address concerns about the size and bulk of new homes, improve clarity for property owners and staff, and incentivize sustainable choices such as solar readiness and tree preservation. Staff noted the Development Review Commission found the amendments consistent with the comprehensive plan.
The ordinance includes a number of technical and design details that will be implemented through the city’s development review process; staff said they will require arborist reports for tree‑preservation bonuses and clarified that some originally proposed restrictions were removed to ensure compliance with state law.
