C.O.N.A. of South Pinellas County

A New Year and A New Name

Jan 18, 2004

Dear Neighbors,

Let me start the year by thanking the folks who did the many hours of volunteer work before me. Brent Fisher led CONA for two years and we are a better city for it. Many neighborhood leaders worked with Brent and deserve our thanks as well. Every president's style is different and focuses on something new. The good thing about new leaders is that they bring energy and a new area to work on. Over time, it makes for a well rounded effort.

As we start the new year, it is the perfect time to stop and see where we are as a group and decide what we want to accomplish in the coming year. We do not have speakers this month. Instead we are going to spend the time deciding our goals for the year. By the end of the evening, we should be able to describe our priorities to the media, the government and our neighbors.

If we can do this, it will greatly improve our chances of staying focused and setting a community agenda instead of reacting as other peoples agendas are presented. Then, we can simply lay out a plan to begin to achieve the goals. Obviously, issues will come up that demand our attention and we will deal with those.

I do not want to set the goals. I want ALL OF US TO SET THE GOALS. In an effort to get you thinking, I will simply give you some subjects: Codes, Police, repair & maintenance of streets, alleys, sidewalks, etc, city spending priorities, traffic calming, land use planning, equity of services, growth and relationships with various governments.

These items are enough to get the ball rolling. I look forward to working with you this year. I have no doubt that we are working at the level of government and community where a person can make a difference.

Sincerely,
Karl Nurse
CONA President

Agenda:
1) Pledge
2) Introductions/self introductions
3) Approval of Minutes
4) Neighborhood Office - report
5) Brainstorming Session - CONA GOALS 2004
6) Old Business
7) New Business
8) Announcements


Height Limits for Downtown?

By Timothy J. Baker
president, Downtown Neighborhood Association

Should there be a height limit on new buildings downtown? This may be one of the most controversial questions that must be addressed when the city rewrites its land-development regulations, a process that is going on right now.

Certainly there is evidence that many people in St. Petersburg would like to see such a height limit. A recent poll by the St. Petersburg Times found that a substantial majority would like a height limit. More anecdotally, the subject came up at a recent meeting of the Downtown Neighborhood Association planning committee. Virtually all of the 15 or so people at that meeting said they would favor a height limit.

But, as with many simple questions, there is no simple answer. If there is a height limit, should it apply everywhere downtown, or just in certain spots? To put that another way, would it make sense to limit building height in most of downtown, but to specify one or more areas where any height was allowed, say along Central Avenue between 1st Avenue North and 1st Avenue South?

Also, if there is a height limit, should it be uniform over all of downtown, or should it vary from one location to the next? For example, would it make sense to have a limit that reached an apex at Central Avenue, but tapered down going north and south, so that a much lower limit was reached at 5th Avenues North and South? Might there also be a taper going west? The result of such varying limits would be an imaginary tent over downtown, under which all new buildings must fit.

Here are a few more thoughts on height limits:

Height and density are not the same thing. The Soreno Hotel was a relatively short building, which was replaced a couple of years ago by the Florencia, a very tall building. Despite the difference in their height, the two buildings had almost exactly the same amount of floor space. The Florencia has large apartments and holds a small number of people. In its prime, the Soreno held a lot more people than the Florencia ever does.

Size is relative. In the downtown zoning districts, the city uses something called Floor Area Ratio to measure the size of a building relative to its lot, and places a limit on FAR to control building size. All of the high rises along Beach Drive (with the exception of the Bayfront Tower) have FARs of about 4. The Ponce de Leon, a small and relatively short building, has an FAR of about twice that. Under the current rules, the Ponce would not be allowed on Beach Drive because it would be too big. (The Bayfront Tower wins the prize, with an FAR of about 25. So, it's roughly six times as big as would now be allowed.)

Shorter isn't always better. A couple of years ago, a developer proposed a new high-rise project for the corner of Beach Drive and 5th Avenue North. The project included a base with retail stores, topped by two residential towers. That project never materialized, but another one came along. The new project also proposed a base with retail stores, but only one residential tower. This tower would be considerably taller than the first project. But, the new (and taller) design seems to many people to be preferable to the first. One reason for that is that it is a thinner tower, and seems to block out less of the sky than the two shorter towers.

Parking doesn't count. Under the city's rules, parking garages don't count towards a building's allowable size. So, when the code says that a building can have an FAR of 4, it really means that it can have an FAR of 4, plus whatever parking the developer wants to add. Let's go back to the Soreno and the Florencia. Yes, their floor space would be about the same. But, the Florencia sits on top of a huge parking podium and that doesn't count as floor space. The Soreno had no parking at all. So, the Florencia is actually a much bigger structure than the Soreno was, but in zoning terms they would be the same. The Bank of America tower is a building that many people like, even if they generally don't like high rises. One reason for this is that it works well at street level, where pedestrians see restaurants and shops, rather than the actual tower. But how would that building feel if it sat on top of six stories of parking? In zoning terms, it's size wouldn't change. Should parking garages count towards building height or overall size?

Perspective matters. I live two blocks from Beach Drive, and from my bedroom window can see the tops of all the tall buildings along Beach Drive, yet they don't seem very large because they block out only a tiny portion of the sky. A much bigger chunk of the sky is blocked out by the four-story building across the street, which consequently seems much larger than the high rises. But, to people on Snell Isle, it may appear that there is a wall of condos along Beach Drive. What would happen if those buildings were shorter, but wider? They would disappear from my view altogether, but would appear to be even more of a wall (albeit a shorter one) to the people on Snell Isle.

History is a long story. Many people want to preserve what they feel is the quaint quality of Beach Drive, and so favor height limits. On the other hand, Beach Drive has often led the charge when it came to larger buildings for St. Petersburg. The Soreno, when it was built, set a record for the city. The Vinoy wasn't exactly small potatoes, either. In the 1970s, there was the Bayfront Tower, and in the 1990s the Cloisters and the Florencia. So, one view would be that the proposed Opus projects, which will be the tallest buildings along the waterfront, are just carrying on the Beach Drive tradition.

?—
LDR Process in final phase

By Steve Plice

The ?“Downtown Charrette?”, conducted this past weekend, was the final ?“input meeting?” for the new Land Development Regulations (LDR). The rest of the process will involve writing the actual language that will control City development in the coming decades. If the current schedule holds, the entire process should be completed in the next 6 to 8 months.

Over the past 18 months, the City has been working on new Land Development Regulations (LDR) that, when adopted, will become the rules controlling what kind of construction will be allowed in the City. Our current LDRs were adopted in the 1970s. The new regulations will define how our City will develop in the next decades.

The new Land Development Regulations will have a huge impact on the future character of our City. This may be the most important issue confronting CONA this year.

Tim Baker has addressed the issue of height limits for the downtown are in this newsletter. Obviously, this is a complicated issue that must be addressed carefully and with a great deal of public discussion.

Height limits for downtown is only one of many considerations to be addressed by the new LDR. Downtown is only a part of the City and it is clear that different parts of the City need to develop differently.

Even within our residential areas, we find different issues and different needs. For example, we have both ?“urban?” and ?“suburban?” neighborhoods in the City. Building codes that work well for an ?“urban?” neighborhood could be a disaster for the more ?“suburban?” areas.

In the coming months, the City will be proposing language for the new LDR. As these proposals emerge, CONA will need to review the language and participate in the public process of insuring that we ?“get it right?” for our City.

The typical process is for the City staff to develop proposed language for presentation to the Planning Commission. Normally, these proposals would then be discussed at a Planning Commission ?“workshop?”. Even before, the first workshop, however, there is ample opportunity for public input and discussion concerning the proposed language. Ideally, CONA members should have a good understanding of the proposals well before the first Planning Commission workshop.

After conducting public workshops, the Planning Commission then would conduct a formal public hearing before sending proposed changes to City Council. Council would then conduct more public hearings before adopting any changes.

The process provides for, and strongly encourages, public participation. We, as the advocates for neighborhoods, need to do our part.

FENCES HEDGES AND WALLS

One part of the new LDR that is not being addressed by the City?’s Consultants concerns fences, hedges and walls in residential areas.

To address this area, Development Services, along with Susan Ajoc, convened a committee to provide input. The committee?’s report is presented in full on the next page. The report is provided so that residents and neighborhoods can provide comments and additional input.

The next step will be proposed language to be incorporated into the LDR. We will, of course, have the opportunity to review the proposed language when it is developed.

Additional comments and input should go to Susan Ajoc at 893-7356

FENCES, HEDGES, AND WALLS

SUMMARY OF VISUAL PREFERENCE STUDIES AND INITIAL DISCUSSIONS
December, 2003

For purposes of this discussion, the term ?“fences?” includes fences, hedges, and walls unless specifically noted otherwise.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A FENCE?

A fence should:

1. Offer privacy.
2. Buffer different types of land uses (e.g. residential adjacent to commercial).
3. Delineate property boundaries.
4. Provide security by restricting physical access for both residences and businesses.
5. Screen outdoor storage from view for both residences and business.
6. Delineate the public and private space.


WHAT SHOULD A FENCE LOOK LIKE AND HOW SHOULD ONE BE INSTALLED?

A fence should be:


1. Well-maintained, free of mildew, upright, properly erect, and painted/stained when appropriate.
2. Uniform in materials or use a combination of compatible materials.
3. Installed accordingly to industry standards.
4. Installed with the finished side facing out, unless mutually agreed upon between neighbors.
5. Installed so as to not obstruct the passage of an alley or street.
6. Articulated with breaks, columns and other vertical elements when over 50 feet in length.
7. Installed so as to provide some setback from sidewalks when over four feet in height.
8. Appropriate in the use of materials for the purpose it is intended to serve.


WHAT INCENTIVES SHOULD BE OFFERED TO MAKE FENCES BETTER?

An increase in height should be permitted:

1. For hedges used in lieu of fences.
2. When landscaping is installed on the street side of the fence for fences abutting rights-of-way or public areas.

1. When a fence is decorative or consistent/complimentary with the architectural style of the principal structure.
2. For chain-link fences in waterfront yards that are vinyl-coated.

Incentives should be created to:

1. Promote the use of higher quality materials or stained/painted fences.


WHAT CHANGES FROM THE CURRENT ORDINANCE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED?

1. Accommodations should be made for arches over gate openings, gates in fences, and decorative gates.
2. Specifications should be established for the maintenance and materials for fences.
3. Height should be increased for hedges in side and rear yards.
4. Height should be increased for open fences when residential properties have extraordinary frontage.
5. Fences should be measured from existing grade. For FEMA properties, a formula should be established to allow for measurement that accommodates different grade situations.
6. Waterfront yards for working waterfronts (marinas, MSD properties) should be regulated differently from those on residential lots.
7. Fences for waterfront yards on canals should be regulated differently than fences for waterfront yards on open water.
8. Regulations should be established for barbed wire.
9. Different regulations should be established for buffering between uses of differing intensity (e.g. house abutting office v. house abutting factory should not be the treated the same).
10. Hedges should be regulated within an area measured from the property line, not within the entire yard. Fences and walls should continue to be regulated within the entire yard.
11. Every non-waterfront lot should have an opportunity for a fenced private outdoor area with a six foot high fence.
12. Regulations should be established for different uses (e.g. houses, apartment complexes, businesses, and driving ranges should not be treated the same).
13. Distance requirements should be established between fences and windows/doors of abutting structures in urban areas.
14. All fences on major streets, except for industrial uses, should be decorative.


WHAT PARTS OF THE ORDINANCE SHOULD REMAIN THE SAME?

1. The required visibility triangle and clearance should be retained.

1. Base fence heights should remain the same and be regulated over the entire yard.
2. Fences in waterfront yards should be treated differently than other yards.



CONA LEADERSHIP 2004
By Cathy Wilson, Chair
CONA Leadership 2004

TICK, TOCK, the clock is counting down!!! CONA Leadership is approaching the date for the first session to begin on January 12th with Orientation Night. We?’ll have a crowd of students, distinguished guests and, of course, our invaluable former graduates who?’ve volunteered as leaders. We have an exciting schedule packed with informative and entertaining speakers, programs and tours. The entire experience runs from January 12th through the Graduation Dinner on May 5th.

The students will be attending CONA meetings so please stop and say hello when you see a new face. Many thanks to all of the neighborhoods that have sent students ?– we couldn?’t have had a successful class without you!

_____________________


2003 Neighborhood Accomplishments -
Disston Heights Neighborhood Assn., Inc.
By Bob Garton Jr.
President, Diston Heights

- We are trying to increase our membership base and Neighborhood Awareness.
We have a strong enthusiastic core group of volunteers that we're trying to grow.
- Strengthening & Increasing our "Neighborhood Watch / Crime Watch". We now have a little over 600 members in this segment, thanks mostly to
our N.W. Coordinator, Bob Myers. We have established quarterly meetings, and a N.W. newsletter.
- Increasing vision of "Court Watch" -- headed up by myself and Ingrid Comberg.
Growing involvement in tracking prostitute arrests, court cases & various other projects.
- Developing a "New Resident" program headed up by Thomas Sherrill Delivering Welcome Packets of neighborhood business coupons, complimentary
Association newsletters to 50+ new residents each month.
- We are planning an Easter Egg Hunt in April 2004 and a Craft & Antique Bazaar for fall 2004.


Neighborhood Garage Sale
Saturday February 21st. 8AM-12PM
Walter Fuller Youth Center (outside) 7891 26th. Avenue N. St. Petersburg.
CO-Sponsored by The Jungle Terrace Civic Association and the Walter Fuller Youth Council.
Table Rental to the public $10.00
The table rental fee goes to the Youth Council to support their activities. All sales go to the person who is renting the table.

Please clean out you garage and home of items that are saleable and make money for yourself.
Don't wait until the last minute to rent your table, call Brad Rice at the Walter Fuller Youth Center 893-7443.


CONA BOARD OF DIRECTOR?’S MEETING MINUTES
The Sunshine Multi-Service Center
December 17, 2003

President Brent Fisher called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
>Brent led us in the pledge of allegiance to our flag. He then inquired if all attending had received our December CONA Newsletter.
>The President then called for corrections or additions to our November Minutes. Hearing none the Minutes were approved as published.
>In the absence of Treasurer Libby Steele, Brent offered her report of a current balance of $1,234.23.
>President Fisher reminded us of grants ranging in value from two to twenty-five thousand dollars are available from the Florida Forestry Management Department. These are 50% matching grants with an application deadline of February 6th, 2004.
>Susan Fisher, speaking for the Beach Drive/Downtown Business Association urged us to plan to attend a new play depicting: ?“The Birth Of Jesus As Told By Animals?” to be performed at the Palladium Theater, December 19th & 20th.
>Susan Ajoc of the Neighborhood Partnership Office announced a special commemorative service in Straub Park for the Holocaust Exhibit there.
>Barbara Heck, Chair of our Nominating Committee announced their draft slate of nominees and called for additional nominations from the floor. [None]
- She announced that numbered ballots will be used for our election.
- The slate of nominees for 2004 is:
President- Karl Nurse
First V.P.- Jeff Danner or Steve Plice
Second V.P.- Theresa McEachern
Treasurer- Libby Steele
Secretary- Conrad Weiser
- She made a call for ballot collectors assist her this evening.
>President Fisher then opened the meeting to reports of progress in 2003 from our member neighborhood associations. Reporting were: North Kenwood, Broadwaters. Causeway Isles, Edgemoor, Harbordale, Jungle Terrace, Lakewood Estates, Lakewood Terrace, Meadowlawn, Mobel Americana/Americana Cove, North Downtown, Historic Kenwood, Riviera Bay, Shore Acres, Snell Isle, Greater Woodlawn, Beach Drive/Downtown Business, Grand Central, and Old Southeast.
>City Councilman John Bryant next addressed our meeting citing the need for additional housing to accommodate young families noting that the average age of our current residents is only 39 and falling! He urged revision of our LDR codes to encourage housing development.
CONA Minutes 12/17/03 continued- Side 2
>Deputy Mayor Mike Dove spoke to us of two recent favorable developments that will have conspicuous impacts on our community and its quality of life.
1) The newly completed Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan will bring an infusion of $12 million to our city over the next five years.
2) Recently legislated Joint Use Provisions will provide greatly expanded facilities for recreation programs with the facilities of our county schools.
>Terese Hilliard, speaking for the Neighborhood Partnership Office noted the revised holiday schedule for city trash collections. She also urged our member neighborhoods to provide her office with updates of their elected officers and by-laws.
>President Brent Fisher then cited notes of progress by our organization including improved relations with the Police Department and the growing alumni of our CONA Leadership Program now totaling over 250 graduates.
>David McEachern offered a brief report as CONA representative to the Citizens Police Council
>The results of our vote was announced giving Steve Plice as First V.P.
>President elect Karl Nurse urged greater participation in our e-mail listbot and appealed for our recommendations of CONA goals for 2004.

Our meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Conrad Weiser, Secretary