Subject:
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Ordinance amending the Countywide Plan. (First of two public hearings)
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Sitting as the Countywide Planning Authority, hold the first of two public hearings to consider proposed amendments to the Countywide Plan to include:
• Streamline the Countywide Plan Map amendment process, allowing some amendments to be processed by staff without the need for public hearings.
• Clarify requirements for amendments in the Coastal High Hazard Area.
• Provide additional options and technical assistance for amendments to satisfy the requirements of the Multimodal Accessibility Index.
• Update the Target Employment Center category to increase maximum density standards and clarify provisions for adoption and amendment.
• Implement the recommendations of the Housing Regulatory Toolkit by adopting new definitions, standardizing language for housing density/intensity bonuses, and expanding bonuses for Mixed Use and Senior Housing.
• Housekeeping amendments to update obsolete citations, definitions, and provisions governing nomenclature, administrative hearings, boundary map adjustments for natural areas, and mailed notices.
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Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.1 Improve traffic flow efficiency.
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.1 Increase the availability of attainable housing.
3.3 Increase workforce opportunities.
3.5 Foster Business Growth
Summary:
Summary
The current Countywide Plan was adopted in 2015 and was last amended in 2023. Over the past year, Forward Pinellas staff has worked with the Special Act Review Subcommittee to implement recommendations streamlining the Countywide Plan Map amendment process, and where appropriate, reduce the need for countywide public hearings.
The amendment package expands the criteria for Countywide Plan Map amendments that qualify for staff-level review in lieu of public hearings, with supportive amendments to clarify submittal requirements and review criteria. Also included are amendments that were previously recommended by the Forward Board in September 2025, but which were paused to allow for the recommendations of the Special Act Subcommittee to be added. Those amendments implement recommendations of the Housing Regulatory Toolkit, broaden mitigation options for the MAX Index, clarify use of the TEC category, and make minor housekeeping revisions.
The Forward Pinellas Board, in its role as the Pinellas Planning Council, advertised and held a public hearing on October 14, 2026. At the public hearing, the board voted 17-0 to adopt Resolution 26-05, recommending the Countywide Planning Authority amend the Countywide Plan as set forth in the attached ordinance. As part of the recommendation, a provision was added to exempt Countywide Plan Map amendments within community overlays from eligibility for staff-level reviews. Following the public hearing, a ministerial update to the Land Use Strategy Map, which was previously recommended by the Forward Pinellas Board but inadvertently omitted from the resolution, was added to the amendment package.
Amendments to the Countywide Rules or Countywide Strategies require two public hearings by the Countywide Planning Authority, with at least one of the hearings being held in the evening. This is the first of the two requisite public hearings. The second public hearing will be held on December 15, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
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Background Information:
Forward Pinellas documentation is attached.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Staff Member Responsible:
Linda Fisher, Executive Planner, Forward Pinellas
Rodney Chatman, Planning Division Manager, Forward Pinellas
Partners:
Local governments of Pinellas County
Attachments:
Forward Pinellas Resolution 25-04
Forward Pinellas Resolution 26-05
CPA Ordinance
Summary of Proposed Amendments
Presentation
Affidavit of Publication