Sweeping South St. Pete zoning changes receive final approval
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After five years of arduous studies, planning and debate, a historically underutilized and industrial area of St. Petersburg is on the precipice of a growth spurt. On Sept. / 12, The City Council unanimously approved transit-oriented zoning changes and a Target Employment Center overlay to accommodate multifamily redevelopment while supporting the Warehouse Arts District’s creative character. The land use amendments encompass a 58-acre area around 1st Avenue and 22nd Street South.
Stakeholders have long clamored for sweeping zoning changes to increase housing, employment and commercial opportunities in their corner of the city. Councilmember Gina Driscoll noted the path to final approval was “full of twists and turns. ” “But in the end, I think we made some changes that made this better,” Driscoll added. “I feel like we are really creating St. Pete’s next great neighborhood, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
” Establishing what Driscoll called a neighborhood for the creative class intrinsically intertwines with the region’s first bus-rapid-transit service. Plans to explore transit-oriented development (TOD) in typically industrial and residentially zoned areas coincided with those to launch the SunRunner nearly a decade ago. Local officials commissioned the SunRunner Rising Development Study to discern how TOD could spur revitalization and growth. The Target Employment Center (TEC) overlay is directly south of the 22nd Street (Deuces) corridor’s SunRunner station. The area also encompasses a section of the Pinellas Trail that lacks development.
In 2023, public workshops highlighted the demand for mixed-use zoning allowances and increased density. The council approved multiple plan amendments at a Sept. 5 hearing. Those included waiving parking requirements for projects that meet TEC criteria. Council members also voted to remove workforce housing density bonuses required to unlock the maximum allowable floor area ratio (FAR) – structure size relative to its lot.
Developers can build up to 86 feet if they dedicate 40% of ground floor space to TEC industries. Those include several light industrial, manufacturing and arts-related operations. The overlay also allows retail, hospitality, office, research and educational uses that occur “concurrently with or after” target employment applications. However, some stakeholders, led by Miami-based developer Joe Furst, expressed concern that the ground floor restrictions would hinder commercial development and vibrancy provided by bars, restaurants and other businesses. Council members agreed to eliminate loading docks, mechanical space and building ramps from square footage calculations.
The final piece of the zoning puzzle – food truck regulations – remained unresolved. City ordinances prevent food trucks from remaining in one place permanently. Administrators warned of the potential fire and safety implications. However, the district is already home to unique culinary concepts like Food.