Planning board approves accessory food-and-drink use at 12700 Gulf Boulevard hotel

The Treasure Island Planning & Zoning Board on Oct. 23 approved a special-exception use and site plan to allow a food service and alcoholic-beverage establishment inside an existing 21-unit hotel at 12700 Gulf Boulevard.

Phil Rooney, the applicant, told the board he had purchased the hotel to renovate after hurricane damage and that the property's redevelopment economics require an accessory food-and-beverage operation to make the project financially viable. "When the city changed the code to allow special exception use of food and beverage, that was essentially our saving grace in this project," Rooney said, describing a small indoor bar and kitchen occupying 660 square feet in the hotel lobby intended primarily to serve guests and pool patrons but open to the public.

City staff (Jesse) presented the request under the RFH50 zoning criteria and cited applicable local provisions, including section 68-484 of the land development regulations. Staff noted accessory alcoholic-beverage uses must not exceed 10% of principal-building floor area and must be located entirely within the principal structure. Staff recommended approval with conditions requiring the approved site plan, that the sales/service area be limited to the identified 660-square-foot indoor area, compliance with licensing from the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco and the Pinellas County Health Department, and compliance with Florida fire- and building-code requirements at permitting.

During public questions, the board sought clarification about whether patrons could take drinks onto the beach and how parking was accounted for. Staff responded that Treasure Island allows limited open containers in public areas but prohibits glass containers and that the business must operate within the indoor 660-square-foot area; enforcement of patrons taking beverages off site is primarily a police/property-owner matter. Staff also confirmed the applicant's site plan shows the required parking and explained hotel parking is calculated per code.

The motion to approve the special exception (SPEC-0000507-2025) was made by Gary Patenziano and seconded by Chris Downing; the board carried the motion by roll-call vote with no recorded oppositions. The board separately approved the matching site plan (SIT-0000500-2025) with staff conditions by roll-call vote.

The approvals are subject to the listed conditions on the record and to all required permit reviews before building permits or certificates of occupancy are issued. Staff noted a concurrency review will be completed if required before permits are issued. The applicant said construction completion is targeted for February.