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Planning board advances redevelopment standards, raises densities for downtown CRDs
Summary
The board approved Comprehensive Development Code changes to adopt standards for the Clearwater Largo Road and West Bay Drive Community Redevelopment Districts and approved a West Bay Drive future land‑use map amendment that raises density and floor‑area ratios along Alternate 19; the Clearwater Largo Road FLUMA was continued to Feb. 19.
The Largo Planning Board on Feb. 5 approved a Comprehensive Development Code amendment that consolidates Community Redevelopment District (CRD)‑specific development standards into the city’s CDC and establishes updated character districts and incentives for the Clearwater Largo Road and West Bay Drive CRDs.
Whitney Clark, a city planner, told the board the amendment moves standards formerly contained in CRD plans into the Comprehensive Development Code to give staff more flexibility in implementation. The amendment introduces a new "mixed use corridor — Alternate 19" character district intended to support higher densities and intensities near Alternate US‑19, adds uses such as shared flex commercial space, research and development, and urban agriculture to the allowed‑use table, and adds definitions for green infrastructure, pedestrian zones and premium transit stops. Staff recommended approval and said the amendment aligns with the City of Largo comprehensive plan and Chapter 163 of the Florida Statutes.
Staff also described a package of bonus incentives tied to pedestrian‑realm improvements and structured parking: developments that provide structured parking or enhanced pedestrian facilities may qualify for density or floor‑area‑ratio bonuses. Jared Austin, the incoming planning manager, said the city and Forward Pinellas are coordinating on multimodal transportation improvements and that some pedestrian and transit improvements are already programmed in the city’s capital improvement plan.
On a related item, the board approved a future land‑use map amendment for the West Bay Drive CRD (MA‑25‑0005). Staff said the amendment area is about 24 acres and 21 parcels, most adjacent to Alternate 19, and that the proposal would increase allowable density in the main amendment area from 30 dwelling units per acre to 60 and increase maximum floor‑area ratio from 1.0 to 2.0; the impervious surface ratio would remain unchanged. Staff said the item will appear before the City Commission for first reading on March 3, 2026.
The board also continued the Clearwater Largo Road FLUMA to a special meeting on Feb. 19, 2026, after staff said some annexed parcels required re‑notice because they had not been assigned character districts at the time they were annexed. The continuance motion specified the Feb. 19 special meeting date and time.
A motion to approve the CDC amendment passed on a roll call vote of 6–0. The West Bay Drive FLUMA passed by the same margin; the Clearwater Largo Road FLUMA was continued to Feb. 19.
