Pinellas County LPA recommends land-use change, development agreement for US 19 site

The Pinellas County Local Planning Agency recommended approval of a future land use map amendment (FLU26-02) and an associated development agreement (DVA26-02) for a roughly 4.82-acre parcel on the west side of U.S. 19 in unincorporated Clearwater. Scott Swearingen, the county’s long-range planning manager, told the LPA the proposal would permit a self-storage use that is not allowed under the site's current residential-office-retail (ROR) designation and that staff supports the amendment and agreement.

Swearingen said the development agreement includes binding limits to protect Curlew Creek and floodplain areas and would cap the maximum impervious surface ratio (ISR) on the property at 0.7. “Staff recommends approval,” Swearingen said. He noted the land-use change and agreement are structured to push new development eastward toward U.S. 19 and to place non-buildable areas in a conservation easement.

Applicant representative Kevin Riali told the board the application does not legally bind a specific use but is driven by an intended self-storage project and by the need to meet modern stormwater and floodplain rules. Riali said redevelopment will likely consolidate existing parcels and that a vertical solution (the proposal contemplates up to four stories) will reduce ground disturbance. “The proposal is for 4 stories, which is within the limitations of the code and the comprehensive plan,” Riali said.

The LPA voted to recommend both items; the chair recorded the motion for FLU26-02 as “Motion by Olivieri; 2nd by Hamilton” and for DVA26-02 as “Motion by Hamilton; 2nd by Larry Johnson.” The LPA chair called both motions passed. Both recommendations are scheduled for a final decision by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners at a public hearing on October 27, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.