Pinellas Park council approves zoning changes to allow smaller lots, arts and fitness uses

The Pinellas Park City Council on Feb. 10 adopted Ordinance 2026‑01, revising the city’s land development code to add new compatible land uses, permit additional commercial activities and change several dimensional standards.

Todd Byron, senior planner, told the council the amendments correct land‑use designation errors, “add commercial or community redevelopment district, CRD, and commercial neighborhood, CN, as compatible land use categories,” and introduce new permitted uses such as “art gallery, art studio, and health club.” The package also shifts recreation open space from a conditional to a permitted use, reduces the minimum lot size from 12,000 to 8,000 square feet and raises the maximum floor‑area ratio from 0.40 to 0.45. Byron said the changes include new minimum yard‑setback rules and shorten allowable hours of operation in the district from midnight to 10 p.m.

Byron told council the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval on Nov. 6, 2025, and staff described the revisions as technical corrections and modest regulatory adjustments meant to add flexibility for small commercial parcels. Council member Butler moved to approve the ordinance at its second and final reading; the motion carried unanimously via the Granicus roll call.

The ordinance amends Chapter 18 of the land development code and will be incorporated into the city’s code of ordinances. Council members and staff said the change primarily affects new businesses and that existing, lawfully established businesses would remain grandfathered under current hours-of‑operation rules.

The ordinance takes effect per the schedule stated in the ordinance text. No member of the public spoke in opposition during the hearing, and council did not attach additional conditions.