Pinellas Park council adopts budget amendment, annexes parcel and approves consent agenda; final plat passes with one abstention

The Pinellas Park City Council on Jan. 23 approved several key items including a first fiscal-year budget amendment, an annexation and associated land-use and zoning changes, and a final plat that passed with one abstention.

Dan Cassion, speaking during the public hearing on Ordinance 4283, described the measure as the city’s first budget amendment for the fiscal year. The amendment brings forward prior-year funds for unfinished capital projects and budgets market adjustments and merit increases; it also includes funding for four new police cadet positions and, according to Cassion, "close to a little bit over a million dollars for police vehicles." The council opened the second and final public hearing on Ordinance 4283, took no public comments and passed the ordinance on second and final reading unanimously.

Senior planner Lizzie St. Pierre presented cases P2 and P3: P2 is an annexation application (AX-2024-5) for a parcel generally located at 6243 67th Lane North; P3 (LUPA D924 D008 / Ordinance 20252) is a future land-use map amendment to designate the parcel Residential Low Medium (RLM) with zoning to be R4 (duplex residential district) upon annexation. St. Pierre said the parcel is contiguous to the city, meets annexation requirements set forth in Florida Statute 171.000(44), and is located in Flood Zone X (low risk). With no public comment, the council approved the annexation and the land-use ordinance on second and final readings unanimously.

The council then approved the consent agenda (items C1–C8). Item C1 is a resolution waiving certain permit fees for single-family dwellings issued to homeowners acting as contractors for a three-week period beginning March 3, 2025 and ending March 21, 2025. Other consent items authorized the city to accept several utility easements (items C2–C4) and included first-readings of Land Development Code amendments (C7–C8).

R1 (previously C6) requested final plat approval for Vonti Town Homes (PL-0724) at 8755 49th Street North. A council member announced they would abstain because the civil engineering firm they work for prepared the original civil site design and filed the required paperwork; the council voted to approve the final plat with one abstention.

Council members offered brief closing comments about community events and staff travel; the meeting then adjourned.