City Council

>> welcome to the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting your elected officials are mayor Rick kriseman district one Robert black money. District 2 Brandi Gabbert district 3 and Council chair, and mountain areas. District 4 garden right. A district 5. Deborah big spenders a district 6 and Council vice chair Gina Driscoll district 7 Lisa Wheeler Bowman. And district 8 Foster. >> Petersburg City Council meeting for March, the 11th 2021 can we begin with a broken plates. >> Sanders here, this school air. We were bowling yeah Foster air right now air every year. Thank you Madam Clerk. Begin as we always do with the invocation and pledge of allegiance number going to have a moment of silence I want to introduce father Ryan Whitley from Saint Thomas Episcopal Church and beautiful City Council district 3. Pastor father Whitley good afternoon. It's my pleasure to be here today. Thank you for inviting me back the last time I was invited here I was a little under the weather. So I'm I'm glad to be back. Let us pray. In your word you have given us a vision of that holy city to which the nations of the world bring their glory. Beholden visit we pray the cities of the year. Especially this city of St. Petersburg. Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life. Send us honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty. Peace May prevail with righteousness. That men and women from different cultures and with differing talents May find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity. This we ask in your holy name. The United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God. Visible with liberty and justice for all. >> Everybody can remain standing please. One year ago. Started to shut down the city for covid 19 and that time. 529,000 American citizens have been lost due to covid 19 and here in Pinellas County 1495 of our residents have passed away. Honor them for a minute. Bother father Whitley thank you again for that for the invocation that's great great to see you in. Thank you for everything you do for your ministry. Council members we have an agenda before us, I'll entertain a motion to approve the agenda. We have a motion a second to approve the agenda seeing no request to speak with the clerk please open machine for voting. Council members please cast your votes. Seeing all council members have voted with the clerk please tally announce the vote. >> This general motion to approve the agenda passes unanimously. Thank you Mister Clerk, we have consent agenda before us all and entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. We have a motion a second to approve the consent agenda. Mister Clerk do we have any speakers on the consent agenda. >> We have no one in zoom, Mister Chair and then the cards. All right thank The clerk please open machine for voting. Council members please cast your votes. Seeing all council members have voted by the clerk please tallied announce the vote. >> Excuse me Mister Chair, the motion to approve the consent agenda passes unions. Thank you Mister Clerk will move to open for him, but the clerk please read the rules for open forum. If you wish to address City Council and subjects other than public hearing because I'd to dish of items listed on the agenda. Please sign up with it. Clerk in conference room 100. Only individuals wishing to speak we fill out a yellow card. Only city residents owners of property. State business owners in the city for their employees we speak all issues discussed that are open for must be limited to issues related to the city of St. Petersburg government. If you're speaking to an item on the agenda you May only speak once during the open for him when the item comes up on the agenda done in order to provide an opportunity for all citizens to address Council. Each individual be given 3 minutes to speak and after which the microphone will be muted. If you wish to address City Council through the zoom meeting. You must use the raise hand feature button in the zoom app or interest or 9 on your phone. At the time. The agenda item is addressed. When it is your turn to speak, you'll be needed and asked to state your name and address at the conclusion of your comments or when the you have reached the 3 minute time limit. You will be needed. Andres hands will be lowered after each agenda item regardless of the method of participation used normal rules apply include a 3 minute time limit on comments. The requirement that any presentation material. Let's be submitted in advance of the meeting and the rules of decorum if my public comments is disrupted by violation of it was a decorum it shares authorized to accept public comments by alternate means including by e-mail to me and we did not have any cards are. All right. Thank you Madam Clerk in the future there are >> Going The open for in session. Chris I know you pull to cb one for good news in Paris posed to be somebody here did you want to delay this until we have our guest here. No it's okay. Okay people let's let's go to move to e 2. i shared risk. Thank This and effort. That's been in progress. For me with the with the dea says live and particularly with the attorneys fair all. The executive director of the deuce to take a very tiny lot on 9th Avenue South just East. 22th Street that is owned by the city turn it into a community garden and offered when there is here to talk about the agreement that the city. Will If we vote accordingly with the dea says live to. Take over use of that of that space to create the garden. This is a development and it's really just lending to our overall vision for the dea says and building community along with creating a new opportunity for urban agriculture, so thank you all for it for joining us. Good afternoon. I'm sure in Council after one of their director real estate property management. You have before you request to approve a resolution authorizing the mayor or his designee to end to execute and license agreement with the deuce is live. Florida not for profit corporations to use the surplus an improved city owned parcel located approximately 21 89th Avenue South. St. Petersburg as a community garden for 36 for a period of 36 months for an aggregate fee of $36. As as Councilwoman Is discussing this is a proper this is on for quite some time is kind of odd ball. If look at several explored several different uses for property and then really seen to be appropriate and the deuce is live approached. The city about using it for community garden and see my could be a good use as oppose it is currently vacant lot and with that we have to take any questions. Any questions council members. >> Seeing none When we hear from the public first. Good afternoon City Council person members of the audience and deputy mayor and other people assembled in the the 4 few up here. My name is the interest there on the executive director of the dea says live. Thank you Councilman Driscoll in the City Council for proving that community garden on the dew says this should be a never consider another one for the food policy council. We're excited the community has another opportunity to build another healthy space. We on the corridor look forward to a grocery store that will provide even for further fresh food choices. Thank you. Think the Playboy for here to speak on that. Thank thank you Miss Farrell can. Can you have a seat we have a couple council members that have some comments councilmember Cap'n. Well thank you chair I don't have any questions I just want to apply Councilman Driscoll and the utter us an hour everyone that was involved in this the food policy council. No secret amazing effort this is and how close it is to my heart's. I just wanted to publicly thank you all. And congratulate you and say let's keep on working on this and find other areas in the city that we can do the same so thank you all. >> Entertain a motion. We have a motion in the second to approve item e 2 seeing no further request to speak with the clerk please open machine for voting. Council members please cast your votes. Saying all council members have voted by the clerk please tallying announce the vote. >> Mister Chair, the motion to approve of the night and eat too passes unanimously. Thank you. Vice chair Driscoll. Thank Miss Farrell, if you wait for just a moment, I've something outs for you here. My colleagues on City Council deputy mayor, you those gathered here. I wanted to just take a moment to tell you. What a joy it is to work with the actress on items, large and small that really have. Have brought the deuce is forward in a way that we haven't seen in so long and getting to know via tourists and how. Dedicated she is to this effort has just really inspired me and motivated me and a collar once a what you need how's it going have that burden coming along and the agreement and she's always just so positive, it's wonderful. >> I wanted to since today is a great day for us. >> With this community garden moving forward I wanted to take. The opportunity to present the actress. With our sunshine ambassador award and I can't think of a better person to award this to you at this time. And and if anyone wonders. Is there one reason for the interest received this word now there are 22. Let me tell you she's determined we're thinking compassionate daring could courageous optimistic passionate ethical humble, that smile. Honest bold authentic empowered savvy inspiring strong responsible respectful decisive committed and dedicated. There's our 22 reasons why the actress Farrah is our sunshine ambassador. Thank you. And thank you to be okay. >> Don't know the do it. Our district if lit. Right now. Everything that we do we how we can Council person lethal and already number. >> got 2 people that take care of them there. If I think you for everything you do you think thanks for your time. If a time where I say it's due to my board though I didn't do its job. Thank you board members of the deuce is live since I started in 2012, thank you to all of you and thank you Council President. Thank Vice chair Driscoll and Beatrice before you go running off. I too wanted to say I I see you everywhere. And you're so involve your so energetic I don't have 22 reasons. A lot of reasons that I'm happy that we have people like you. Leading in the dew says and doing the work that you do to make our city a better place. City Council now move on to new ordinances and will take up the one with the clerk please read the title. >> 1, 1, 3, 3, dash ni or is approving a partial vacation of 39 Avenue North consisting of 2,727.1 square feet of right away located on the northern side 39th Avenue North between 3rd Street North and 38th Avenue North setting forth conditions for the vacation to become effective in providing for an effective date. The public hearing is scheduled for Apr. The 1st and we do not have any parts. >> And some member Blackmon thank you I have a conflict with this due to a business interest I'm going to recuse myself, okay thank you. She just real quick I want to make sure that he would have a conflict even though this is legislative. So for the records coupled with development services. >> I have confirmed with Mr. Blackman he does have a little conflict that would prevent his participation. Okay. Ok also I just want make sure you didn't get in cars because I believe the applicant was filling out a car downstairs I was coming in. I think okay. >> Council members to does anybody want to hear that presentation. Administration are you ready to make a presentation. We have a we have a motion a second to approve first reading of of the ordinance. We have some cars, yes, getting to that. So we do have a motion second on the floor that's going to hear from the public. Melissa written. I get afternoon my name is Melissa Rowland. My address is 2, 1, 4, 38th Avenue Northeast. I'm live about 3 blocks from this whole foods location. I believe that this variant should be approved. This is a very small piece of property that this project will need to move forward and I did Ricky space up on the drc decision. Last week. And just wanted to express my opinion that I believe it should be approved. Thank you. All right, thank thank you very much. Next speaker please Jae Miller. Does it matter that the podium fine. Good afternoon. All right. >> It looks to do this without the presentation materials but I'll do my best. The trend that May be reading this little quickly because I understand we have 3 minutes on Jae Miller live at 7 to 3 17th Avenue Northeast. Good afternoon council members. I am advisor to the applicant here which is sunrise Plaza holdings his principles Mister 8 right back. The applicant purchased the property which abuts this mall right of way personal. In 2007 existing shopping centers, 50 years old it's tired and it's obsolete. The entire property, the shopping center shaped like a triangle and this leftover piece of public right of way sits at the very front of the property. I was hoping to show you photos but we'll do that another time. Since acquiring the center a bus inquired multiple times to city staff about vacation of the city parcel and staff have throughout the years indicated they would consider vacation in conjunction with the redevelopment of the shopping center is it's no longer needed by the city. So here we are the applicant now has a plan to redevelop the property for a new organic grocery store and applied for vacation in January. I had wanted to show you the planned to the minute try and. Summarize some key points without it. Our tenant is a full-service organic grocery store which will be new to sing Pete. It's generally considered to be a feather in the cap for any neighborhood or city. They will likely have only one store in our city for many years and believe this is the best location for their business. The site plan and renderings which I wanted to show you wanted to point out a few facts about the plan. Zone here from its a 70,000 square foot retail building which would likely require structured parking garage. The proposed plan is for a freestanding 40,000 square foot grocery store. The existing shopping center contains 37,000 square feet with a 165 parking spaces relative to the proposed 40,000 feet with 207 spaces as required by zoning so 40 more parking spaces for only 3,000 were scruff square feet a building. The existing building his setback only 15 feet from the north property boundary a budding single family residences the new building and here is the current setback requirements and will be 50 feet from the north property boundary. The existing center provides no on-site training to treatment of storm water in the new plan will conform to current code requirements for water management. So why are we making this request for this mall. The occasion. This little are right away. Parcel is the very front of a shopping center. And we'd like to maintain incorporated into the overall landscape design and maintenance of the new project number 2 the site, the overall size triangular it's difficult to lay out parking efficiently on a regularly size parcel or truck shaped parcel in order to provide the required parking we falling just slightly short of the requirement for pervious surface area without including a small piece of additional grass area. And 3rd we plan to use this green area for limited above great storm water retention in addition the sizable underground stormwater treatment storage. So that's also important. Approaching the plan approval the a variance from previous surface serious, thank you by the drc does not address all of you Mr. Thank you. Mister Miller. Thank you. I don't want to we couldn't pause on the public. Hearing right now and Mister Merrill abrupt brought up a point the parcels what are we going to hear from ministration and get you have a power point for this one. Thank you. For the records coupled with development review services. The requested area for vacation is a triangular portion of public right away located on the north side of 39th Avenue North. Between 3rd Street north on 30th Avenue North highlighted on the map in yellow. The request a vacation was routed to city departments and private utility providers engineering and water resources identified existing city utilities within the area proposed for vacation as a result, the applicant has agreed to reserve the entire parcel to be vacated as a utility easement. Here's a photo taken from 38th Avenue North looking Northwest toward the parcel to be vacated. This photo was taken from 38th Avenue North looking West down 39th Avenue North in the background. The parcel to be vacated highlighted in yellow is to remain a grass area. This is a view looking east from the intersection of 3rd Street North and 39th Avenue North. Yep locacion throughout the city departments and private utility providers for review. Staff receive comments from engineering and water resources requiring easements over existing facilities. The applicant agreed to provide an easement over the entire parcel to be vacated and ministration is recommending approval subject to the following conditions. The applicant shall reflect the parcel to be vacated along with the abutting property. When replanting the app it will be required to provide a public utility easement over the entire parcel requested for vacation. On Feb. 3rd the request was heard by the development review Commission at their meeting they made a motion to approve the proposed vacation which failed by a vote of 3 to 4. Thereby recommending denial to City Council. The drc recommended a denial as their preference was to preserve the public right of way and how the applicant pursue a variance to maximum impervious surface. Area requirements. The applicant did summit for a variance to isr requirements for the site the site plan submitted with that application which will be heard by the drc on Apr. 7th, shown here with the person requested for vacation. I like that. The site is in a flood zone and the applicant is anticipating utilizing the area to be vacated to meet water retention requirements. This issue cannot be are resolved through a variance. That completes my presentation if you have any questions, I'll be more than happy to answer. Thank you, thank you, thank you very much. My my apologies when we continue with the public comment. Next speaker please Richter and skin. Good afternoon Craig to rescue for the applicant. That group or 91th Avenue South St. Petersburg. Understand today, we're just voting on setting the public hearing. So I want to believe or any any points or probably revisit it during that process. But just a few highlights in the set kind of set a seed. Your thoughts going into the April meeting. This the subject And the alignment of small triangle roadways is merely a vestige of the the roadway grid. That was established by the 1913 planned for this area was planted for small. Ellie the residential lots. This shopping Plaza as being you know today was planted in 1958 68 which essentially wiped out the grid pattern of that the original contemplated residential subdivision so that. Alignment that extension of serves no purpose with the with what's happened over the last century. Just on the drc You heard from staff that they voted for 3 to recommend denial. They expressed, at least 2 of the commissioners expressed a policy. A general policy can speak hitting right to it because it was something it was permanent that policy doesn't exist in any of your governing documents or land regulations return or your code comp plan. It's not the or Preview to be setting policy that's councils preview. Dear c should be evaluating applications based on the criteria, better put the ball that application. In this case staff report that's attached to the agenda goes through that analysis of the criterion the comp plan to put people complain policy. In fact there is a policy that deals vacating rights away and particularly in this grid pattern. The transportation element of the comp plan states the city so that became public right away once that is determined that the roadway is not required for President Future public use that determination been made by your staff with that that is the case that would allow this vacation to go forward. I think this Council's well aware of the challenges of infill development in the city's really built up. And it's not uncommon practice more common to see these types of easements right away vacation is preceded entire book redevelopment plans. Those projects no different than you heard, you know, there's challenges the same challenges year surface parking generates impervious surface and the to saw or and surface water management. You need need green space. Around the site. This in this particular vacation will solve the problem for this project. Ice are variants that dear c invited the application the applicant to come back with will not solve both of those issues so that's why we're still here today asking for this vacation. Thank you very Next speaker place. We don't a concert. Okay, we have anybody online this All right. Thank you. Will go next to vice chair Driscoll. Thank you and. I have a couple of questions about this that the d r c haddin where did our staff percent high. The drc had that the way that they did that they did indicate support for a variant as an alternative. In the notes here it says that the club that the applicant apply for the variance and that is currently scheduled to be heard by the drc on Apr. 7th us that still the case. Yes, that's still the case. Okay. And but our public hearing for this item would be on Apr. First so that would happen before that. From reading this and maybe I maybe need some more help understanding. Before I vote to move this forward. And for Apr. 1st. It sounds like the variance really would. Made the same goal since it would be kept as green space. But then give us the flexibility. For that space if we need to make traffic improvements in the future and we all know congested that area can be already and you know I I would want to leave us that opportunity if we can so I'm wondering how the variance does not meet the goals of of this project or how it would not negatively affect the plan. >> The applicant is anticipating use in that area for water retention as well and they couldn't apply for a variance to water retention. It would just have provide. The greater underground system for retaining the water. This application was routed to transportation for comments and and they responded back that they didn't have any objection. >> I just one of one is permanent while the other one gives us flexibility. And I I'm just wondering if we if if the applicant can live with the very with the variance as the second option. And that way everybody is giving a little. >> Yeah I would have to defer to the applicant. >> If at the very least I would I would this forward if we had the public hearing after Apr. 7th. So that we can see what the outcome is with the variance because that would be my first my first option and you know I I know how to count votes in looks like the drc will pass this. With that we're little area. I just think that we should keep our options open. >> Thank you Paula just well the drc approve the variance the the applicant will start to go through replatting even if you approved the vacation. So if they approve the variance and he doesn't need to vacate, you know he May not go through the vacation and the replatting so it May still remain right away. But you know what you want. It proved he has that right to move forward and make it. >> That we would be better off having the public hearing for this for the vacation after we learn of the outcome for the variance application. Yeah that we would be fully informed. >> Follow Come fall. So certainly it's your prerogative to set the public hearing for a later date. We were conferring about was from a notice standpoint based on the noticed requirements for the Times what what meetings would be available. So it really could be a possibility. Okay we be able to that that would provide we would still be able to provide notice. For the April 8th, public hearing if that's what you'd like to do. >> Yeah because then we will know the outcome at that point so yeah, so this view from Lehman. Proposed a friendly amendment to you change the date the second reading in public hearing to Apr. 8 2021. >> There's a friendly amendment on on the floor is there a second. I just I made the motion. I was the second. It is is the amendment acceptable to you okay, okay. >> So we have a amended motion a second on the floor. Let's go next to a black church or school you. You know. Vice chair race, I mean a >> brought up concerns that we want to preserve our right to make future changes to that roadway. And we did just go through a big change to that I forget what point in time somebody here can remind me but. We. Added a stop light right there but we made changes to help address some of the accidents that were taking place there. I think we have to fix the curvature of the road a little so I mean we have just recently gone through a lot of work there so I don't no what other future where we need to be thinking of in order to take the step. I just wanted to put that forward thank you. So we have a motion a second on the floor and. I would like to hear from the applicant. Get some more information about your your thoughts on. >> I'm not going to tell you that waiting an extra 6 days is going to make a difference. When I am going to tell you is that. Despite the fact that this is a pretty small parcel only 3 and a half acres that it's about as complicated site as I've ever worked. There are a number reasons. Let me start with the fact that there is a city storm order trunk line. It's 7 by 12 feet in size buried in that runs through the center of this property and that will have to be relocated in order to accommodate this project and the cost of we think around $400,000. The second issue which I explained it is it is a very regularly shaped parcel. A rectangular parcels easy the layout when you're talking about a retail store box. It's also rectangular and your parking is perpendicular parallel. You can lay it out very efficiently because of the orientation of 38th Avenue that worker to the Northeast a 41 between 41th between 4th and first. We have a triangle as a result. It's much more difficult to lay out officially for parking and as I mentioned earlier to meet the parking requirements. And finally the site happens to be at the western edge of the title. Which means that edition to bringing the site up to code which it currently as I said there's no storm water treatment retention on this site. So in addition to having to do what normally would be required to meet current storm water requirements which is all going to be underground. We also have to do additional mitigation because the site is in the flood plain. So all in all very very costly site to develop. The ability to use this little triangle for some limited amount of above great storm water retention is important. And it is possible that. If the vacation is denied that the costs will just get to the point that the project is no longer feasible. I put that 40 just so you understand the challenges that were you know we're dealing with in trying to make this happen. Explanation. It's good to know you know all these other factors that. In in our backup material. There's a lot of this information that I didn't see. >> I didn't hear that moving the public hearing from Apr. First Apr. 8 is going to be. You know it's it's a it's a weak change. To win it. When we're going to take this up up again so. My thinking is go go ahead and vote for. The motion that's on the floor go ahead and take this up on Apr. The 8th and we'll see what the drc does. Seeing no further request to speak. With the clerk please open the machine for voting. Members please cast your votes. Singer President Council members of voted with the clerk please tally announce the vote. Mister Chair, the motion to approve the agenda item. The one. Asus 6 to one with council member. Rice voting no and council member black men being recuse. >> The council will move on to the 2. With the clerk please read the title. Renews them before 5 4 dash h and once the mending ordinance 3.24 dash speech to finalize the renaming of the cities mean library as the President Barack obama May library and providing for an effective date. The public hearing is scheduled for March the 18th and we do not have any cards. >> Mister Jeffries is here does anybody want to make a motion on this ordinance. We have a motion a second. Cards on this item. And any anybody waiting on line. We do it. Mister Your most people multiple people that need that second I couldn't really hear who. Second. I was a little bit on the motion who made a second. Councilmember fix and this I think made this in. Okay we have a motion is second on the floor seeing no further request to speak with the clerk please open machine for voting. Council members please cast your votes. You know council members voted with the clerk please tell announce the vote. Mister Chair, the motion to approve the agenda item d 2 passes unions. Thank Mister Clerk. City Council recess a City Council reconvened this on that as the cra. Cra to Miss Burlock good afternoon. Afternoon. I do have a presentation. Afternoon again Jennifer Brian was zoning official and development review services manager. I'll be presenting in town West redevelopment plan 21. One a the project located on the southeast corner of First Avenue North 11th Street North. The property is currently bank it and located at the southeast corner of First Avenue North and 11th Street North in the ads district. The project valued at 9.5 million and will consist of a 7 story 100 studio unit apartment building. With 798 square feet of commercial space on the first floor. As I said the proposed building will be 7 stories. The ground floor of the building will consist of a lobby area 10 dwelling units commercial space. A bike storage room and recreational activities. As is indicated in the edge district master plan which says include measures to make bomb Avenue more pedestrian friendly and bicycle friendly. You can see in the site plan that the applicant is expanding the sidewalk along ban bomb to 10 feet and 8 feet which is code compliant. They're also proposing an art mural along the pool wall which is at the very South side South and a long bomb Avenue. These enhancements will continue to develop the walkability along bomb. The dumpster is being located underneath the building and will be accessed from first Avenue North. The loading is also proposed along first Avenue North. The loading area will be used for on-site that way and loading and unloading the vehicles. There will be no on-site parking the applicant will be providing on site that way to the residents and guests of the building. The applicant will be parking resident and gas vehicles at off-site location that is located nearby the subject property. Possible locations include Tropicana field and the vantage loss which are owned by the same entity. So the vantage loss as you will recall is located on the Northwest intersection of first Avenue North and 16th Street North. And at grade outdoor amenity will be located at the South a budding bomb Avenue North. And include an outdoor pool seating cabanas outdoor kitchen grill and fire pit as well as trees along the Avenue and public art as stated in as stated these amenities served activated facilitate a reimagined palm Avenue. The upper floors of the building will have 15 dwelling units per floor. The proposed building will be an understated contemporary architectural style as described by the applicants architect. The facades will have simple repeating rectangular pattern that is created. By the window pattern and by the vertical recesses and projections. This massing in scale is consistent with the surrounding patterns of the district. The spenders predominantly in stucco with areas finished with composite wood panels the use of the continuous war is a little buy-er elements at the upper floors will provide shade and shelter. The base of the building will have a large store front windows along first Avenue North and 11th Street North. The retail entrance will be from first Avenue North and the upper levels of the building will have a significant amount of blazing in frustration. The lobby entrance will be from both 11th Street North and First Avenue North. The lobby entrance is are defying with the projecting inverted l shape, concrete wall. So consistency with the in town West redevelopment plan. The intown West redevelopment plan requires the community Redevelopment agency to evaluate and evaluate a development proposal to ensure its proposed use and design are consistent with the in town West redevelopment plan. The plan emphasizes. One of the goals is to provide a specific development focus for the dome district that supports the intown less redevelopment area and capitalize on the opportunities generated by Tropicana field. Objective one of the hour. I w aarp he calls for establishing a cohesive development pattern and visual identity through land uses that reinforced downtown and stadium development through the creation of highly visible and intensive activity notes and reinforcement of retail on Central Avenue and first abcor. Objective 2 of the I w r p calls for ensuring new development and redevelopment project projects are appropriate and scale and design by establishing design guidelines for buildings ground level spaces. Parking garage and streetscape improvements and establishing parameters for upgrading existing buildings and parking The proposed development is permitted under the current dc, one zoning and we'll continue the redevelopment of downtown as described in the comprehensive plan. The building is urban and scale with pedestrian oriented street level features including the provision of store front windows systems consistent with urban buildings and streetscaping including Planters and street trees that will accept the building. These will be located on first as well as bomb. Staff recommends approval of the attached resolution finding the 7 story. 100 dwelling unit and 798 feet of commercial space located on the southwest corner of first step, North 11th Street North consistent with the in town West redevelopment I'm available if you have any questions. Thank Miss Problem, we have any cards on this item. Hi my name is Jim Pappas I'm project architect I address is 5, 5, 0, He's 9 mile Ferndale Michigan. I just like to thank you for the wonderful presentation. I'm here today request approval. The design of the project meet all the requirements of the we've developed permenter streetscape to pedestrian friendly we've expanded the walks. Specifically along bomb because currently there is only a 5 foot walk in that area. We've increased that 8 feet and 10 feet. We'd I would like to address one. Some comments that we did receive from preserve the bird. There was some. To be a little bit more pedestrian friendly. Just to note that the the wall height near 11th is only 4 feet tall, so you can see into those that entire area. The wall at the pool area specifically is 6 feet but there are a number of openings in in that wall so that again you can see at the landscape tree areas you be able to see through it into that space. So we think it is pedestrian friendly. There was one additional comment. Suggesting that in lieu of palm trees. We might use some shade trees. I discussed it with the developer we'd be more than happy to modify a few of those palms as part of the design to include some shade trees along the perimeter and just to be you know keep everybody happy and. The questions you might have I'd be happy to answer. Thank thank you very much. Robin Reid >> Good afternoon council members and Council on tonight. I'm here today representing preserve the Burg we are requesting that approval for this project be deferred. We join edge district and its excitement about the possibilities for re imagined and reactivated bomb Avenue and encourage the Our Metro developer to participate in making that possible. To date there has been no engagement by the do not develop or with either the edge district or preserve the Burg despite requests. This is in stark contrast to the engagement both organizations have had with the bill point project which is going to be built adjacent to the Metro project. Bell point representatives have a listen to the neighbors could concerned they they have made major changes, including activating the side of the building that faces bomb Avenue with many many restaurants and shops and I mean there are many in my and I many restaurant and providing a publicly accessible arcade connecting first Avenue to bomb Avenue. For projects like the bill point and Metro that both front bomb and First Avenue. There should not be a backside to the development both building facades need to be particularly pedestrian oriented an 14 to master Metro appears to treat palm Avenue again as its part with its private space as opposed to more publicly accessible space. With a bit more time to engage with the neighborhood and others the down Del Mar project could become a major player in the new reactivated palm Avenue. So we're requesting that you help all of us to make this happen by deferring your approval of the project until it comes closer to realizing the communities vision for bomb Avenue. Thank you so much and thank you. Next the complaint. We don't have any more carts are ok thank you. Then we'll speak to some of those speakers Mister Chair, all right, thank you very much we'll go first to vice chair to school. >> Learning that there hasn't been any engagement with. With the edge. This is just right. The witches usually engaged in every little thing that happens in the us district. That I have some concerns about that you know why there hasn't been any communication with the with that organization. I mean and community engagement and talking with neighborhood groups are. Business groups from the neighborhood is is pretty standard practice. New developments coming in said this was a surprise to me. >> Yes I believe because this is the second approval for the site. It previously came under review as a different project and the edge was involved in the negotiations of that I think because this project was. Severely downsized but I can't speak for the applicant as to why they didn't have further engagements with this particular project but I know that there were initially. It has gone through a lot of changes >> and then German is really important and having that input. I I I'm especially interested to know how the bomb Avenue side of the development could be made better and those conversations are how things can get better. I would I would be in favor of deferring this. For a short amount of time to allow the developer to engage or at least make an attempt to engage with the edge businesses straight. Members to. Really good feedback from them and make sure this means for with community involvement. And thank you councilmember plakon the very much >> I'm I'm glad I was speaking after a vice chair do school because I agree with a lot of what she said. Basically I did have one question for the valet parking. That's not codified is that the mandate is that that's just their they said they're in off of that. >> No certain of it. No parking is required because Council reduce the parking standards last year ok just I just want to check out so back to it though we're looking at this is a consistency for the town West. And we have got a couple e-mails. As recently as over the last hour so about. Concern with the consistency of Bonn Avenue and you know I've been involved over the last year with you know the efforts to make bomb much more pedestrian friendly including the conversion of dumpsters to trash compactors we just had our talk about complete streets in committee earlier and we do want to make sure that this is something that fits in with the grander scheme of making our downtown in the entire West much more. Not We'll make a protest in front of all so much more livable and walkable so I would also be in favor of deferring this. Because we do want to get this right and make sure that that we We don't harm with what's going on there on bomb and there's a lot of good stuff going on the area so thank you. Thank you councilmember fix. Sanders. >> And thank each year. I a question and I don't know who to direct it to the first thing came to mind when I saw the compactness of the project. And parking and the lack of do maybe my colleagues to the nsa does do we know with all the construction and apartments that we have going on right now how successful are we with the feeling I vacancy rate because we have so many important is Point. Deflated is going to stop and in we we as a city are going to have to deal with some of that over development. So I don't know if there has been an issue or thought of us going forward and then Also hearing that the this to chew is had not been huge on making sure we get those impacted the most involved in the process that they're included in not informed. So. The hearing the. Recommendations of other colleagues to defer So that they can take place, I'm also in agreement with that. >> Thank you councilmember ice. Yes I just wanted to clarify. What is outreach and engagement been with the edge district neighborhood Association in dna downtown neighborhood Association. I don't know if dna place into it as much as the edge but have they been engaged. >> I think that that's just what we were speaking okay, because no notice is required for cra hearing. And they've come by right, so they were required to have any variances are have specific site plan that went to hearings so I can't speak for the applicant if they've reached out and engage I know that they have before with this previous redevelopment plan on this site okay so we we don't have. Anything we don't have anything on letterhead from the edge district saying yay or nay about this in its current form. No ma'am. >> Councilmember fix Sanders. This clarification and I don't know who these answer this but my first question do we track the occupancy of the development as far as the vacancy rate in the city of Saint Peter's for. So do we. >> Do we track the vacancy rate of all of the development of the apartments in the city of St. Petersburg do we continue to have growth in the vacancy rate is still high do we track that what we consider a new development. >> We have that as a part of that year db economic. Analysis right in first that and see we look at various indicators but how real time that is in by private development, I'm not sure how like real-time report on that would be I know that is something we look at annually. Okay, so if I can have the last word for the last annual that would be great. >> You're welcome councilmember dapper. Thank you chair and I would counselor and fix Sanders just give you some in the real world, I don't have a vacancy rate numbers for you I can just tell you that if you're looking for rental in the city of St. Petersburg I mean, especially one to 4 double right, but really anything very very challenging. There is a high demand. There are people and we talked about it this morning. The number of people moving to our city all the time and so the demand is certainly still there at this time I do share in those kind of I guess forecasting concerns about like when when will it stop when you know when we have too many but at this point in time we're not there yet. Thank you. Council member and 2 in our 2050 outreach we determine that we are deficient in about 2500 housing units in the downtown area, annually. Ok well thank you that's all I need I don't need to enter a report then thank you for answering that question. Thank you. >> Councilmember damp covered you are done that. Thank you I understand the applicant is here and has put a card in re questions to speak. Good afternoon introduce yourself good afternoon Mark di ceo of gov our development. I would just like to speak regarding the. Meeting with the edge district Association or lack, thereof we have not been contacted for by any. Agency like the edge district Association or the server preserve the bird had just sent an e-mail noticed me over the weekend. The first notice. You know this is like the train has left the station. Months You think the appropriate time to contact us would be not several days before. This meeting. This means this project is fully finance ready to submit permit Later this week. We intend to be breaking ground in May. You know we have designed this project by right. We have met, you know strict adherence to all the requirements of the city doesn't seem like we're the appropriate board for preserve the bird to come to to make these changes. I think appropriately they need to come to the city to make these changes we've we've designed this building. Meeting all the requirements. Afford to. Have this project that go at this point I mean there's word heavily invested in this financial commitments have been made. We're going to comply with the landscape suggestions we have no problem doing that, but I mean this this would have this matter should have been taken up. Many many months ago. A couple days before this. Approval that doesn't seem that doesn't seem. You know in the near sense of It all. Mentioned I'd like to make is when we this project so it was. The hotel site. The edge district Association want to meet with us and the wanted us to eliminate the commercial component. They did not want the commercial components we we reduced it. And now preserve the bird is wanting to activity we can understand we can understand we have provided all the retail commercial component that is necessary so I don't think that a couple days notice over the weekend, especially and I you know I met. It was a Fri. Notice. Now nearly appropriate. We have the financial commitments and mean what we what we have what what is at stake. We can't afford to differ. a month we're willing to work in any way shape or form to make. Preserve the bird happy which we which irked extended we will make those changes landscape ways but. That that's what it is. Thank you vice chair Driscoll thank you and I just want to make it clear that days communication does go both ways and. That there There is. It's typical that a developer would reach out to. Neighborhood or business associations that are involved. If there You know a development happening because they want to get the support of the neighbor head. I'm not sure where this went wrong. But I'm not comfortable with moving forward with this until we do have some input from the community I feel pretty confident that this will move forward at that time. But it's as it stands. And I moved to I'm going to move to defer this item. I understand that there the developer wants to move forward and that time is of the essence. There are as he mentioned there are months and months to engage well, they're meant and months to engage from each side. That did not happen. City Council meeting on Apr. 1st. I was originally going to propose Apr. 8th to give it a month that we do have a meeting on Apr. 1st and I believe that gives ample time since both groups are. Since both the developer and. The organization have both indicated that they would be willing to talk. Let's give them that opportunity to do so therefore I'm going to you. Move to defer this item to the City Council meeting of Apr. 1st 2021. >> We have a motion on the floor. We have a second. I can we have a motion and second on the floor. Let me go to legal first about deferring this to Apr. 1st and our city clerk. It is that doable. It is Mister Chair there's a different type of notice we don't need the same type of notice for this that we would for the public hearing. So Apr. 1st we fund. Okay and that works for the clerk's office also okay. Give everybody my perspective I don't have a whole lot of questions on this but. Why is it on a that that the city doesn't have to give any sort of public notice. Carrick and it is that pushing that missing in our code that should be. Well good afternoon Council Michael deem a city Attorney's Back in 1990. We adopted a resolution. But the in town and the in town West redevelopment plans. Where any project over a million dollars has to go to City Council for it consistency review with the redevelopment plan. It's not codified in our city code and that resolution didn't and putin notice or other requirements, it's basically report item that comes to counsel but we don't notice the landowners around it. We don't publish notice because it's only a resolution that's being voted on. And well we do have the public hearing aspect of it that's about all that is required. From a process standpoint. Well thank you for that information. Jenny walk me through in Rick. Can you refresh my memory on what happened before with the hotel. When when was that going to come to me just to. One Update of what happened with the hotel and the process that went through then. Looking for the previous staff report. So that was in January I believe. And at that time it was a hotel retail and. It had on-site parking and there were some issues and I would deferred to the applicant to speak why they change Performa or their business I don't know, but they decided that a hotel wasn't something that they wanted to do and they change direction, but it was my understanding. With the hotel that they went to the edge district. Meeting. Had negotiations about a trash compactor I think that they appeased and the of the edge districts concerns or. Wants and desires for what they would need in the district development plan changed. >> That came to a cra and that was approved. Yes, Sir, okay. And I just wanted to point out bomb Avenue in our code is not listed as a street that were required to activate its not an a or b Now that May change as we move forward with the 2050 plan. But as it sits currently it's not a requirement. >> Well I I have a problem with differing an item that meets all of. Code rate requirements. It's not fair for that developer. To delay of a project. Like this. So that's where I stand right now on item let's go next to council member eyes. >> For the process mean today we're voting on whether or not we find this to compatible with with in town Sierra correct. It's been so some of and I do think the developer does I mean I know that they can build by right with what they have planned, but it is especially in this part of the city with the developers by and large that we've worked with so far there's been a lot of give and take a lot of communication. And this is a very very engaged. >> Business and Involvement here. But for some of the issues regarding the activation of Bonn Avenue is that something that we could. Work out when we get to approving a site plan. Or do we is that a drc. Is it the drc that would approve the site plan or is that administrative affairs if every things by the book and there's no variances is that just a straight up. Administrative process. Yes ma'am a couple of things I would say. They could go and submit for building permits and it would be reviewed through the zoning department for consistency with the code. It wouldn't go to drc because they are under all of those threshold. The other thing I would say from urban design perspective. I think it is meeting the edge districts. Masterplan it is activating bomb Avenue with as much as. As a pedestrian friendly environment. It does have recreation uses it's not back of House, it's not the back of the buildings. It's not dumpster enclosures which it is currently they're providing public art along the wall of the pool so even though it May be a private recreational amenity it would still allow enhanced walk ability and engagement for a pedestrian walking down the street. Walking down the home Avenue. I mean that's the whole point is you see people out and chatting and and having fun on that creates a lively active environment that people want to walk in and engage in. The plans were to change it. After this vote. Than it would have to come back. If they weren't substantial, I I don't believe so. But if the plans changed in such a way that there wasn't. Any activation or less of it on a long bomb Avenue. Even though we realize. We don't have the ordinances to compel that if it changes and that's less and we really don't have any way to try and bring this back. If you're saying what activations are currently present in the plan now work to be removed. Yes. We would bring it back to you because that would be changing its substantially from what we see it from an urban design perspective. Ok, so just repeat from an urban design perspective this project were to change them. >> Stan shalee where the activation of bomb Avenue was reduced you would bring it back to Council yesterday. Thank you. >> The member fix Sanders I thank you chair, I council member eyes kind of answer my question is well and I'm trying I'm still way now that I hear the numbers that of of occupancy that needs to be had in the city of St. Petersburg if the interaction with in my decision isn't solely based on preserve the very just so that you know that I've always been huge in community engagement, especially those where it impacts them the most so if we had these these conversations. I guess I'm just trying to weigh in how much with the project actually change. Even after we engaged the community in those conversations what area how much wiggle would we actually have because based on good day yesterday. You just gave it would have to be substantial, but it would come back. I don't know way the communication would change him a guided his project is there any way to estimate what >> I mean. There May and and I don't want to speak for the edge district or preserve the but you know they May want retail storefronts along bomb which I don't think is necessary the best business decision at this point I mean I think that they're leaving it open in certain areas along bomb to maybe open that up if it word be feasible in the future. Does that make sense so the structure is in such a way. I mean they they're proposing 10 residential units on the first floor, so if the market were to support additional retail they could perhaps turn those into retail spaces instead of rental units in you know transition and that way to further activate bomb but I think this at this juncture. I don't think that that would be and we've seen the requirements for that first floor activations on our a and b streets where they put in the store fronts and they're not filled. And so you know we do get to a point where there's a retail a lot. We have programs in place along central or store front conservation. That we we're very purposeful on making those streets more active. But I think that the applicant could put in some. Things in the roadway to help and be consistent with the edge master plan like dollars that could be removed and put back if they wanted. Festivals are I mean those kind of things are very easy to accomplish. >> Thank you chair, I just clarification as to what is currently on the floor. Thank you councilmember Rice. >> Where exactly is the garage entrance. There is no garage man because there is no parking okay, it's the vow way is for loading and unloading is on first. That's on first so ok that's good because something like that on Bon Avenue would work against the whole. They were going for and I believe misread mention that. Bell point which is the adjacent property had come in and we had encouraged them to because they you know our code does also say you should direct traffic off of first and on to the secondary roads which is bomb. In this particular instance and in that tears apart the edge districts. Walkability when you have garage entrances and exits so we're we're working with that manage this trick to try and come up with. I mean able compromise. >> seeing no further request to speak we have a motion and a second. For this item to the Apr. First City Council meeting. Will the clerk please open machine for voting. Council members please cast your votes. Seeing all present council members who voted with the clerk police telling announce the vote. >> Mister Bush to share the motion to defer. Cre 2 passes 4 to 3 with council members Blackmon through school. Foster and rice voting. Yes, council members. The fix Enders mountaineering Liberman voting no camp councilmember gather being absent. >> I guess I would just say to the applicant. You can spend a little bit of time with the 2 organizations that want some more information that be good mom. Bring this back up on Apr. 1st. Thank you City Council will move on to a new business now. And we'll take up. F one. >> Mister Chair of the free person can recess the cre Rick, I'm sorry good. I think thank you for the reminder. Mister City Council I mean with that we will recess as a cra and reconvene as City Council and will take The first item. In all the new business items or are mine. The first item f one I respect really request a referral to the committee the whole to discuss that for your Park project that is currently on the Weeki Wachee list the project would utilize Weeki Wachee funds for the purchase of residential property adjacent Jason to prayer Park to expand the parkland rubble. We have a motion we have a second. We have a motion in a second. No request to speak do we have any cards on this item we do not thank you. Anybody online Mister clerk. Mr. Clerk please open machine for voting. Council members please cast your votes. It's a present council members who voted with the clerk police telling announce the vote. >> This is for the motion to approve or deny if one a passes unanimously with council member Gabbert been yes. Thank you. Mister Clerk. You have to. I respectfully request referral to the public services and infrastructure Committee for discussion regarding the St. Petersburg Marina. We have a motion and a second seeing no further request to speak we have any cards on this item. We do not. >> There are no hands Thank you will the clerk please open machine for voting. Council members please cast your votes. Singer present council members who voted with the clerk please tally announce the vote. Sure the motion to approve the agenda item at to passes unanimously with council member and everything after that. Thank 3 I respectfully request a referral to the public services and infrastructure Committee for discussion record regarding the for project. We have a motion a second council member Foster. >> Going the psni the my understanding was the administration's plan to bring this forward to us. Shortly and with this. List of 4 for girls to psni. As well as whatever's in the pending refer list and just wondering if there was something specific I feel like. Tell you t reviewed this project last year. And so I'm just wondering the need for another committee review. >> We did and I think it was a committee of the whole meeting. That we did get some preliminary information on this. This is it. 3 acres actually 2.8 acres of property. The city constructing I believe it's 24 townhomes constructing 28,000 square feet of retail. And I still have a lot of questions on this project and there's also a fund that's going to be. On on this project so I still have a lot of questions on how this is all going to work. >> I gue