Commission advances ordinance to allow administrative approval of plats after state law change; debate centers on public input

The Safety Harbor City Commission on Feb. 2 approved Ordinance No. 2025-06 to amend the city’s zoning and land-development code to permit administrative review and approval of plats and replats in order to comply with Senate Bill 784 (2025).

Carol Strickland, the city’s community development director, told the commission the ordinance implements the state requirement to move plat and replat approvals to an administrative process while preserving the commission’s authority to approve site plans for development. She said planning staff and the Planning & Zoning Board reviewed the change; the board unanimously recommended approval.

Several commissioners expressed concern that the state preemption would reduce opportunities for public input on subdivisions and other land divisions. One commissioner described the change as effectively ‘‘taking it away from the public,’’ and asked whether the legislature intended to ‘‘cut us out’’ of the process. The city attorney, Sarah, responded plainly during the discussion: "Yes. It is a preemption." Strickland and other staff emphasized that the plat is a technical document memorializing lot lines, easements and dedications, and that site-plan review remains a commission decision.

The commission voted to approve the ordinance. The transcript’s roll-call entry for this vote contains inconsistent text (the recording transcribes the final entry as "Motion passes 3 to 3 to 2"); staff confirmed the item will return for second reading/adoption on Feb. 16 as previously noticed. Staff said the ordinance codifies an administrative plat approval process already outlined in a resolution adopted by the commission in August.