Pinellas by Design: A Blueprint for Updating the Countywide Plan

Pinellas Planning CouncilMay 18, 2011

Pinellas by Design: An Economic Development and Redevelopment Plan

for the Pinellas Community• Approved in 2005

• Culmination of a five-year countywide planning and visioning effort

• Contributions from local governments, steering committee, and the public

Pinellas by Design: An Economic Development and Redevelopment Plan

for the Pinellas Community• Transition from greenfield

to redevelopment

• Integrate land use, transportation, and economic development

• Determine the most appropriate places for redevelopment

Public Input• Hundreds of participants

attended three countywide summits

• Representatives of local government, businesses, and the public

• Identified areas of the county appropriate for higher density/intensity redevelopment, mixed uses, transit

Centers

• Other data were used to identify focal points of community activity

• Compact, interrelated, higher densities and intensities

• Mix of residential, retail, entertainment and employment uses

Corridors

• Connections between centers, throughout county, and to regional destinations

• Automobile, transit, and pedestrian/bicycle travel

• Shared by commuters, shoppers, freight traffic, tourists

Districts

• Areas where similar land uses or activities are grouped together

• Less compact and interrelated than a center

• Example types: tourism, historic, arts/cultural, employment

Employment Districts

• Employment districts are especially important

• Existing and potential employment districts were identified

• Industrial land is a significant component, addressed in a 2008 follow-up study

Redevelopment Potential

• Vacant land

• Underutilized land

• Public plans and investments

• Aging structures

• Low structure value to land value ratio

Those elements were combined in the Centers, Corridors, and Districts Framework

Purpose of the Centers, Corridors, and Districts Framework

“Effective redevelopment planning will build upon the existing development framework, channeling growth into areas where it can be appropriately accommodated…. Redevelopment should be organized around the existing system of centers, corridors, and districts.”

Future-Oriented Perspective

• Recognize the Economic Development and Redevelopment Plan for the Pinellas Community (EDRP) as a working policy document that will provide guidance for future economic development and redevelopment planning on a countywide basis.

Application to Countywide Plan

• Incorporate the strategies of the EDRP within the Countywide Plan. (Plan Approval Strategy A.3.)

• Amend the Countywide Rules to provide additional flexibility for local governments in meeting their redevelopment needs, consistent with the goals of this plan. (Regulatory Tools and Urban Design Strategy C.1.)

Unification of Land Use and Transportation Planning

• Coordinate countywide redevelopment planning with the MPO regarding transportation and land use relationships. (Pinellas County Jurisdictions and Agencies Coordination Strategy A.3.)

How do we continue to buildon Pinellas by Design?

• Move from concept to implementation

• Adopt a future-oriented Countywide Plan Map that anticipates redevelopment in these areas

• Encourage higher densities and intensities to locate in these areas through the Countywide Rules, and transportation planning

Examples from Other Areas

Blueprint Denver• “Areas of change” vs.

“areas of stability” in comprehensive plan

• Implemented through land development regulations and infrastructure investments

Examples from Other Areas

Blueprint Boise• “Areas of change” vs.

“areas of stability” in comprehensive plan

• Implemented through land development regulations and infrastructure investments

Examples from Other Areas

Portland Metro 2040 Growth Concept

•Directs growth to centers, corridors, and transit station areas

•Protects existing neighborhoods and rural areas

The Work Ahead…• Incorporate and further

local government plans

• Refine identification criteria

• Update with current data

• Integrate with MPO plans

• Translate from general concept to Countywide Plan Map

Next Steps• Land Use/Transportation

Working Group meeting on June 1

• Meetings with local government staff starting in June

• Draft Request for Proposals to Council on June 15

Questions or comments?