Subject:
Title
Case No. ZON-24-05 (Dushyant Gulati)
A request for a zoning change from R-R, Rural Residential and R-3-CO, Single-Family Residential with Conditional Overlay to R-3-CO, Single Family Residential with Conditional Overlay on approximately 3.2 acres located at 2281 Kersey Road and 1736 Winchester Road in unincorporated Largo. (Quasi-Judicial) (Companion to No. 24)
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Based upon the evidence and findings contained in the staff report and attachments, Case No. ZON-24-05 is recommended for approval:
A resolution approving the application of Dushyant Gulati for a zoning change from Rural Residential (R-R) (1.02 acres) and Single Family Residential-Conditional Overlay (R-3-CO) (2.18 acres) to Single Family Residential-Conditional Overlay (R-3-CO) (3.20 acres).
• The applicant is seeking a zoning change on a 3.20-acre subject property consisting of two parcels and the intended future use of the property is an 11-lot single family subdivision.
• A modification of the approved conditions from Case Z\LU-20-12 is also being requested.
• The applicant conducted a neighborhood outreach in December 2024, to listen to community concerns. A second outreach was done in February 2025.
• The Local Planning Agency recommended approval of the request (vote 5-1) with the following modification to the Conditions: Decrease the proposed maximum lots from 12 to 11 and removal of a 25-foot buffer along the south property line. Eight people appeared in opposition citing lot size, buffering, traffic, access, and flooding concerns. Two letters in opposition have been received.
• The applicant has agreed to the following conditions as part of the Conditional Overlay:
o Addition of Parcel 30-29-16-70326-200-2102 (2281 Kersey Road).
o Increase the maximum number of residential lots from seven to eleven. (Applicant agreed to decrease the max lots from 12 to 11 at the LPA meeting to address neighbor concerns).
o Remove the minimum 80-foot lot width condition
o Remove the minimum 9,500 square foot lot size condition
o Keep the minimum 25-foot setback from the east property line
o Keep the minimum 15-foot rear setback and 11-foot side setback from the south property line
o Add a minimum 10-foot landscape buffer on the east property line
Body
Strategic Plan:
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.1 Increase the availability of attainable housing
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.2 Enhance community safety
Summary:
Previous Case - Z/LU-20-12
On April 27, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) denied an amendment to the Future Land Use and Zoning Atlas Map, on 1736 Winchester Road. The applicant filed a Request for Relief and a Request for Mediation pursuant to Florida Statutes. A Special Magistrate issued a settlement and recommendation to the BOCC which included conditions for approval of the recommendation. On October 26, 2021, the BOCC reheard the request and approved (vote 5-2) an amendment to Future Land Use and Zoning Atlas Map, with a Conditional Overlay on 1736 Winchester Road (case # Z/LU-20-12, see attached). At that meeting, the Board made a finding that the proposed RL FLUM and R-3-CO zoning district was compatible with surrounding FLUM categories and uses. The Conditional Overlay restricts the number of lots to seven (7), established the minimum lot width as eighty (80) feet, established the minimum lot size as nine thousand five hundred (9,500) square feet, and required an additional five (5) feet to the required minimum setback on the east and south sides of the real property, such that the east property line minimum setback is twenty-five (25) feet, and south property line minimum setback is fifteen (15) for the rear setback and eleven (11) feet for the side setback.
Current Request
The applicant wishes to redevelop this site with an eleven-unit single-family detached subdivision, subject to the proposed conditions. The subject site consists of two parcels totaling approximately 3.2 acres, located at 2281 Kersey Road (northern parcel) and 1736 Winchester Road (southern parcel) in unincorporated Largo. The north property contains a single-family home, and the south property is vacant except for a barn and a couple of sheds.
The northern property is 1.02 acres in size and is designated as Residential Suburban (RS) on the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) and is proposed to be amended to Residential Low (RL) via companion case FLU-24-03. The zoning designation on this parcel is R-R, Rural Residential, which allows for single family detached homes with a minimum 16,000 square foot lot size. The proposed zoning designation, R-3-CO, Single-Family Residential with Conditional Overlay, allows single family detached homes with a minimum of 6,000 square foot lot size, 60-foot lot width, and 80-foot lot depth, plus the conditions noted below.
The southern property is 2.18 acres in size and is designated Residential Low (RL) on the Future Land Use Map, receiving this designation in 2021. The zoning designation on this parcel is R-3-CO, Single-Family Residential with Conditional Overlay, which would allow for seven single-family detached homes to be developed on the site subject to the current conditions. The applicant is not proposing to change the R-3-CO designation, only to modify the conditions noted below.
The proposed Conditional Overlay is binding and is not subject to a concept plan. The applicant is requesting to modify the Conditional Overlay with additional conditions and removal of conditions.
The following conditions are proposed to be added: 1) Addition of the northern 1.02-acre parcel; 2) Increase the maximum number of residential lots from seven to eleven; and 3) Addition of a ten-foot landscape buffer along the northeast property line that abuts the rear of three single family lot.
The following conditions are proposed to be removed: The minimum 80-foot lot width and the minimum 9,500 square foot lot size conditions.
The following conditions will remain: The east property line minimum setback of twenty-five feet, the south property line minimum setback of fifteen feet for the rear setback, and eleven feet for the side setback.
Additionally, the subject property, as well as all the immediate surrounding area, is designated Residential Low Medium (RLM) on the Countywide Future Land Use Map, which allows up to 10.0 residential units per acre. Therefore, this proposal would not require a Countywide Map amendment.
The subject property is adjacent to single-family residential development of varied lot sizes. The properties to the northeast, south and east across Winchester Road are all zoned R-3. The parcels to west are zoned R-R. The parcels to the north, across Kersey Road are in the City of Largo. The surrounding land use designations are RS to the northeast, south and west and RL to the east. Most of the lots in the neighborhood to the east are 60 feet wide, which is consistent with the minimum required dimension of the requested R-3 zoning district. The other surrounding lots are larger, ranging from 1/3 of an acre to 2.86 acres. Smaller 50-foot-wide lots and a mobile home park are located to the north across Kersey Road within the City of Largo.
The subject property has a low flood risk. The subject property is neither within the Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA) nor the Coastal Storm Area (CSA). The subject property lies within Flood Zone X.
Staff is of the opinion that the proposed Zoning Atlas amendment is appropriate and will allow for the site to be redeveloped to the County’s development regulations in a more appropriate manner. The R-3-CO zoning is appropriate when considering the limitations being placed by the Conditional Overly, including limiting the density and the increased setbacks and buffering. Additionally, when evaluating the overall compatibility of the request with the surrounding area, the proposed use is compatible with the neighboring residential area. Lastly, staff also finds the amendment consistent with the Pinellas County Comprehensive Plan (see specifically cited goal, objectives, policies, and strategies listed below), subject to the approval of the companion FLUM amendment case.
Background Information:
The LPA recommended approval with modifications to the conditional overlay, during its March 12, 2025, public hearing (Vote 5-1).
Surrounding property owners within 300 feet of the subject property were notified by mail. Two signs advertising the public hearings were posted on the subject property.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Staff Member Responsible:
Kevin McAndrew, Director, Building and Development Review Services
Partners:
N/A
Attachments:
LPA Report
Case Maps
Previous Z/LU Case
Resolution
Certification of Ownership
Survey
Traffic Study
Neighborhood Outreach Dec 2024
Neighborhood Outreach Feb 2025
Citizen Correspondence
Legal Ad
Legal Ad Map
PowerPoint Presentation