S
t. Pete Beach is contemplating a temporary ban on commercial development for one year, according to a report by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. This decision comes after several recent approvals for development projects sparked controversy in the historically quaint city. Mayor Adrian Petrila presented the proposal to the city commission on Tuesday, suggesting a year-long pause from commercial development to allow for a thorough review of the city's comprehensive plan with an external consultant.
The move follows recent approvals for expansions at TradeWinds Island Resort and Sirata Beach Resort, which Petrila voted against. Commissioner Karen Marriott expressed concerns about the legality of the proposed moratorium, questioning whether it would be defensible to restrict hotels from making any changes while allowing other businesses to continue developing.
The proposed ban would not apply to residential development. St. Pete Beach has a long history of opposition to development, but recent approvals seemed to deviate from this trend. However, last year, a group called Protect St. Pete Beach and several residents sued the city over its appointment of interim commissioners, challenging some of the commission's actions, including the approvals for hotel expansions. A judge ruled that the city had acted legally in appointing interim commissioners, but the lawsuit demonstrated that opposition to development remains strong in the city.
In other news, the Tampa Bay Rays are partnering with Hines to build a $1.3 billion stadium replacement, while John Catsimatidis has secured approval for a $300 million tower in St. Petersburg. Additionally, Miami developer Dan Kodsi has plans for a large project in St. Petersburg that could cost up to $2 billion.
TradeWinds' expansion plans are ambitious, involving the construction of over 600 hotel rooms, 68,000 square feet of shopping and dining space, and a ballroom. The Sirata plans to add two hotels with 400 rooms each. The city commissioners have had a busy week, voting to dismiss city attorney Andrew Dickman on Tuesday, with Commissioner Joe Moholland citing a loss of confidence in Dickman's performance.
