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Belleair Beach board drops residential floor-area-ratio from zoning code
Summary
After residents and planners discussed post-storm rebuilding constraints, the Planning & Zoning Board voted to remove the residential floor-area-ratio (FAR) requirement for the low-residential district, saying setbacks, height limits and impervious-surface rules will remain as controls.
The Belleair Beach Planning & Zoning Board voted to remove the residential floor-area-ratio (FAR) requirement for the town's low-residential zoning district, a change board members said will ease rebuilding for homeowners while retaining other limits such as setbacks, height and impervious-surface ratios.
Staff and planners explained the FAR question arose when an architect asked how new construction would meet a 1.4 FAR standard; staff and the town's site-plan reviewer said many nearby communities do not set a maximum FAR for low-residential areas, and that setbacks and the impervious-surface ratio (0.65) already constrain development. One resident told the board a custom home plan could not be permitted under the draft FAR calculation.
A board member moved to eliminate FAR and another seconded the motion. The board then conducted a roll-call vote; members present voted to remove the FAR requirement. Board members said staff will continue to monitor impervious-surface rules and gather comparative data from other towns before drafting any additional numeric limits.
The board emphasized the change is intended to simplify rebuilding after storm damage while preserving other zoning controls and said staff will return with any technical clarifications needed for permit review.
