Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the HPB Variances topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
St. Pete Beach amends HPB rule so floodplain variances are reconsidered with larger quorum
Summary
Commission changed historic preservation board procedure so a two-to-one vote on floodplain variances at a three-member meeting is automatically scheduled for a later meeting with four or more members, ensuring the four-of-five supermajority required by floodplain rules is achievable.
The City Commission on June 23 approved an amendment affecting how the Historic Preservation Board (HPB) handles floodplain variance requests when only three members attend. Under the amended language, if a variance request is denied by a two-to-one vote at a three-member meeting, it will automatically be scheduled for consideration at the next regular meeting when four or more members are present so the four-out-of-five standard for floodplain variances can be met.
City Attorney explained the change applies narrowly to variances from floodplain management regulations and does not alter the city’s existing appeals procedures under section 3.14. Commissioners said the amendment addresses a practical problem: HPB meetings sometimes proceed with only three members, which could produce outcomes inconsistent with the four-member standard required for floodplain variances and the Community Rating System (CRS) considerations used by FEMA.
The commission approved the change by unanimous vote and asked staff to review whether similar treatment should apply to other HPB items where a larger quorum might change the outcome.
