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Board approves relocation and variances to preserve historic Ozona Village Hall
Summary
The board granted a type-two use and two variances allowing the Ozona community to relocate and elevate the historic Ozona Village Hall at 341 Bay Street after flood damage; applicants said moving and raising the structure is intended to preserve its historic character despite setback variances.
The Pinellas County Board of Adjustment and Appeals on July 1 approved a combined type-two use request and two variances to allow the relocation and elevation of the historic Ozona Village Hall at 341 Bay Street.
Staff told the board the building is a designated historic landmark (2015 Board of County Commissioners designation) that suffered significant flood damage during Hurricane Helene in 2024. The proposal calls for moving the structure horizontally within the property, elevating it and adding site improvements including crushed-shell parking and accessible ramps. Staff recommended conditional approval and said the Historic Preservation Board had issued a certificate of appropriateness for the rehabilitation plan.
Applicants and their representatives said preserving the building’s historic character was the driving purpose of the plan. "This is one of the oldest buildings, if not the oldest building in Pinellas County," a project representative said, arguing that meeting modern setback requirements would compromise the structure’s historic siting and character.
The proposal includes two variances: one to allow a 14-foot front setback where 20 feet is required, and another to permit an exterior unenclosed wooden stairway to encroach 6.5 feet into the front yard where a 4-foot encroachment is typically allowed. Staff noted potential issues related to floodplain elevation and building-code provisions for historic structures but said those flood-elevation questions would follow separate code processes and were not resolved by this board.
A board member moved to approve the type-two use request; the motion passed. The board then approved the two variances in a separate motion, also carrying unanimously.
Next steps: the applicants must complete required site-plan and permitting reviews and address any flood-elevation or building-code requirements that apply to the relocated historic structure before construction or relocation work proceeds.
