Goal 1
To ensure the highest environmental quality possible, the City of St. Pete Beach shall conserve, protect and appropriately manage the natural resources (aquatic, wetland and terrestrial).
Objective 1.1
In accordance with this Comprehensive Plan the city shall continue to protect the quality and quantity of surface and groundwater.
Policy 1.1.1
The city shall promote water conservation as an integral part of water management programs, rules and plans and promote the use of reclaimed water for irrigation.
Policy 1.1.2
The city shall continue to cooperate with Southwest Florida Water Management District to conduct water conservation programs and develop an emergency water conservation plan.
Policy 1.1.3
The city shall continue to support the standards and regulations set forth in the Pinellas Aquatic Preserve Management Plan to protect and enhance the water quality of Boca Ciega Bay.
Policy 1.1.4
The city shall require all new development and redevelopment to provide on site retention of storm water runoff to assist in the upgrading of water quality within Boca Ciega Bay.
Policy 1.1.5
The cty shall cooperate with the Tampa Bay National Estuary Program in its implementation of Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan as a means to conserve and protect marine wetlands and aquatic resources.
Objective 1.2
Regulations for development within the 100-year flood plain shall be strictly enforced.
Policy 1.2.1
New development or redevelopment approvals shall require that post-development run-off rates, volumes and pollutant loads do not exceed predevelopment conditions.
Policy 1.2.2
Recognizing that the community is located within the 100-year flood plain, the city shall adopt and strictly enforce all appropriate federal, state, and regional coastal construction codes and coastal setback regulations.
Policy 1.2.3
The city shall protect the natural functions of the 100-year flood plain so that the flood-carrying and flood storage capacity are maintained.
Policy 1.2.4
The city shall support and encourage the development of a strict flood plain management program by state and local governments to preserve hydrologically significant wetlands and other natural flood plain features.
Policy 1.2.5
The city shall minimize the amount of impervious surface in order to promote groundwater filtration, minimize runoff and stabilize water quality.
Objective 1.3
As an ongoing objective, the city shall conserve or improve wetlands, aquatic resources and wildlife population and habitat to maintain their environmental and recreational value.
Policy 1.3.1
In accordance with this Comprehensive Plan, upon identification in the city, areas such as mangroves and marsh areas shall be identified on the Future Land Use Map as conservation areas.
Policy 1.3.2
Projects (e.g., marinas, causeways and dredging) which could inhibit tidal circulation shall include measures to maintain or improve tidal circulation and flushing.
Policy 1.3.3
Any project which produces changes in tidal circulation patterns shall be approved only after sufficient hydrographic information is available to allow an accurate evaluation on the net environmental impacts of the project.
Policy 1.3.4
The city shall preserve the mangrove island located in Little McPherson Bayou in its natural state.
Objective 1.4
The city shall conserve, appropriately use and protect native vegetation.
Policy 1.4.1
The City shall require that all new development preserve at a minimum 25 percent of the native vegetation on site when applicable. This should not be interpreted to allow development in wetland, or protected areas.
Policy 1.4.2
Native vegetation shall receive priority in the landscaping.
Policy 1.4.3
The city shall encourage shorelines lacking wetland vegetation to be planted with native vegetation in order to minimize potential flood damage, stabilize the shoreline and trap sediments and other non-point source pollutants, and provide additional habitat for fish and wildlife.
Policy 1.4.4
The city shall encourage the removal of exotic invasive plants, as listed by Florida's Exotic Pest Plants Council, including, but not limited to the Australian Pine (Casaurina spp.), Chinese Tallow (Aleurites spp.), Carrotwood (Cupianopsis anacardioides), Punk (cajeput) tree (Malaleuca leucodendron), and Brazilian Pepper (also known as the Florida Holly) (Schinus terebinthefolius), requiring removal at the time of development or redevelopment of a property having such vegetation.
Policy 1.4.5
The city shall consider soil conditions and vegetation classifications when designating land use categories in order to measure their suitability.
Policy 1.4.6
Fill shall not be used to elevate structures in native vegetation areas.
Policy 1.4.7
Although limited natural resources remain in the City of St. Pete Beach, every effort shall be taken to protect these resources as follows:
Objective 1.5
In accordance with this Comprehensive Plan, the city shall protect species with special status from adverse impacts due to loss of natural habitats.
Policy 1.5.1
The city shall assist in the application of and compliance with all state and federal regulations pertaining to species of special status (e.g., endangered, rare, species of special concern and threatened).
Policy 1.5.2
Beach re-nourishment projects shall protect sea turtle nesting areas by limiting construction in such areas to winter and spring months, or by working with agencies following state and federal guidelines.
Policy 1.5.3
The city shall establish a public information program calling for the protection of those sea turtle nesting areas located within the community.
Policy 1.5.4
All spoil islands shall be designated bird sanctuaries.
Policy 1.5.5
The city shall work in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U. S Fish and Wildlife Service and other state and federal agencies to develop an area-specific manatee protection plan in order to ensure long-range manatee and habitat protection.
Policy 1.5.6
Manatees shall be protected from injury and disturbance resulting from aquatic commercial and recreational activities.
Policy 1.5.7
Habitat of special significance to manatees, including additions to publicly owned preserves and refuges, shall be protected.
Objective 1.6
The City of St. Pete Beach shall increase its involvement in monitoring the proper handling, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste within its jurisdiction.
Policy 1.6.1
The city shall work with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and Pinellas County in developing an emergency response plan to handle accidents involving hazardous waste.
Policy 1.6.2
A program shall be developed to regulate small generators of hazardous wastes to protect natural resources and public health.
Policy 1.6.3
Recycling of hazardous waste products such as oils, solvents and paints shall be promoted by the city.
Policy 1.6.4
The City of St. Pete Beach, in conjunction with the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, Pinellas County and neighboring municipalities, shall support an ongoing educational program to inform the city's residents of effective methods to safely store and dispose of household and commercial hazardous material.
Objective 1.7
The city shall continue efforts to comply with all state and federal standards for air quality.
Policy 1.7.1
The city shall work, in cooperation with other agencies, to reduce the potential for automobile emissions pollution by the following measures:
Objective 1.8
As an ongoing objective, the city shall make efforts to assure that Boca Ciega Bay maintains the Outstanding Florida Waters designation.
Policy 1.8.1
No new point sources shall be permitted to discharge from the City of St. Pete Beach into Boca Ciega Bay or into ditches or canals that flow into the bay.
Policy 1.8.2
In
order to reduce non-point source pollutant loading, a
storm water management plan shall follow the regulations
set out in Chapter 17-25,
FAC.
Policy 1.8.3
In order to reduce non-point source pollutant loading and improve the functioning of the city's drainage system, dumping of debris of any kind (e.g., yard clippings and trimmings), into drainage ditches, canals and storm water control structures shall be prohibited
Policy 1.8.4
Through the Pinellas Planning Council, the city shall coordinate with neighboring municipalities and the County to protect estuaries which are within the jurisdiction of more than one local government; including methods for coordinating with other local governments to ensure adequate sites for water-dependent uses, preventing estuarine pollution, controlling surface water runoff, protecting living marine resources, reducing exposure to natural hazards, and ensuring public access.
Policy 1.8.5
The city shall, and require others to, utilize construction and maintenance methods that do not adversely affect water quality or water flow.
Policy 1.8.6
No dredging will be allowed within the corporate limits without consent of the City and all other applicable regulatory agencies.
Objective 1.9
In accordance with this Comprehensive Plan, the City of St. Pete Beach shall protect and restore its beaches, dunes and natural system and establish construction standards which minimize the impacts of man-made structures on these systems through the land development regulations.
Policy 1.9.1
Construction seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line shall be subject to the permitting procedures pursuant to Chapter 161 of the Florida Statutes.
Policy 1.9.2
Where existing waterways are not sea-walled, native marine vegetation shall be used for shoreline stabilization where technically feasible.
Policy 1.9.3
Dune preservation shall be required by development regulations to protect the primary dunes, and which shall address prohibitions on excavations, destruction of native vegetation, and other activities which affect the natural fluctuation of the dunes.
Policy 1.9.4
The city shall continue a program for the restoration and maintenance of the coastal dune system. The program shall include:
Policy 1.9.6
The city shall limit shoreline development that will adversely impact marine fisheries habitats.
Objective 1.10
The city shall participate in an intergovernmental coordination process to protect coastal resources which shall address natural systems on a system-wide basis regardless of political boundaries.
Policy 1.10.1
The city shall participate with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and the County in addressing the environmental issues associated with the maintenance of navigational channels.
Policy 1.10.2
The city shall participate with the City of Treasure Island, Pinellas County and appropriate state and federal agencies in the implementation of coastal management efforts.
Objective 1.11
In accordance with this Comprehensive Plan the city will periodically assess its public beach access needs.
Policy 1.11.1
The city shall continue providing adequate public access to beaches and shorelines.