Pinellas Park council hears first reading of ordinance to allow rural event venues with conditions

Pinellas Park council opened a public hearing on Ordinance 4255, a first‑reading proposal to add a regulated "rural event venues" use to the city's Land Development Code. Senior Planner Bob Burnhard presented the draft, saying the change would allow weddings, banquets and similar events on appropriately zoned low‑density or agricultural properties while excluding uses already covered by state agritourism statute.

Burnhard said the proposal would allow the use as a conditional use in the Farm (F) zoning district — requiring Planning & Zoning review and City Council approval for a property — and as a permitted accessory use in the Public (P) zoning district. Key proposed requirements include a minimum lot area of three acres, written approval from the Pinellas Park Fire Department, compliance with the city's noise ordinance, enhanced streetscape buffering and lighting designed to minimize spillover onto neighboring properties.

"In most cases it would probably fall under what we call a temporary use permit or something like that when a use is proposed that's not typical in that zoning district," Bob Burnhard said, explaining that property owners would need to apply and demonstrate they meet the criteria or request a waiver. He added that onsite lodging would be limited to no more than four rooms for venue clients and that mobile food trucks would be allowed in the Farm district only during approved events. Parking would be calculated using a minimum of one space per three seats, using the venue's maximum capacity to determine required stalls.

Planning & Zoning recommended approval at its April 4, 2024 meeting but suggested council consider reducing the proposed 11:00 p.m. end time to 10:00 p.m. to better align with the noise ordinance and reduce neighbor impacts. Vice Mayor Seil asked whether the P&Z/council review applies to each event or to the property; staff clarified the conditional‑use approval attaches to the property, not each individual event, though individual events may still require temporary permits or conditions.

Resident Jennifer Gel, a St. Petersburg College student, said she supports creating income streams for farm owners but urged caution, citing Miami‑Dade County's experience where noise complaints and late‑night amplified sound prompted ordinance amendments and stricter penalties. "They prohibited outdoor amplified sound and imposed strict penalties for violations, which has led to a significant improvement," Gel said.

The ordinance text also cross‑references Florida Statute 193.4461 to distinguish the proposed rural event venues from agritourism activities that the statute governs. Staff recommended approval; the public hearing remained open and no final council vote on Ordinance 4255 was recorded in the meeting transcript.

The council may consider the ordinance again following additional review and any recommended amendments, including possible changes to the proposed hours of operation.