Goal 2
The city shall provide a set of guidelines for development that protects the lives and property of its residents from the effects of natural disasters.
Objective 2.1
In recognition of the fact that the entire community is located within the identified Coastal High Hazard Area, as redefined by Rule 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, the city shall, to the extent practical, limit public expenditures that subsidize development only to existing development or new development consistent with the Future Land Use Map as adopted, thus limiting population growth.
Policy 2.1.1
The city shall not support or finance new local transportation corridors which lie within the Coastal High Hazard Area, although existing corridors may be maintained or improved as necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of existing residents.
Policy 2.1.2
The city shall not support or finance sewer and water line extensions or expansions within the Coastal High Hazard Area which will encourage future growth/higher densities in those vulnerable areas.
Policy 2.1.3
The city shall continue to plan and fund infrastructure and services consistent with the level of service adopted herein and shall ensure that permits for development and redevelopment activities are issued only if public facilities necessary to meet the level of service standards adopted pursuant to this Comprehensive Plan are available concurrent with the impacts of the development.
Objective 2.2
Because the entire community is located within the Coastal High Hazard Area, defined as the evacuation zone for a category 1 hurricane as established in the regional hurricane evacuation study applicable to St. Pete Beach, the city shall require appropriate development and construction standards to mitigate the adverse effects of coastal hazards.
Policy 2.2.1
The City of St. Pete Beach, acknowledging its particular vulnerability to coastal hazards as a barrier island community, recognizes the entire city within the Coastal High Hazard Area and the first geographic area to be evacuated in the event of a hurricane threat.
Policy 2.2.2
The city shall maintain allowable densities in the Coastal High Hazard Area (the entire island community) consistent with the Future Land Use Map of this Comprehensive Plan.
Policy 2.2.3
The city shall require a coastal hazard disclosure statement on all real estate transfers or leases.
Objective 2.3
The city shall with regional authorities maintain or reduce hurricane evacuation times.
Policy 2.3.1
The city shall coordinate with state, regional and county agencies to ensure that major evacuation routes are adequately maintained and, when necessary, improved to facilitate an efficient and safe evacuation.
Policy 2.3.2
The city, in cooperation with the Pinellas County Department of Civil Emergency Services and the South Pinellas County Chapter of the American Red Cross shall sponsor annual hurricane preparedness seminars to increase hurricane awareness.
Policy 2.3.3
City emergency response personnel and volunteers shall coordinate with county and state emergency response agencies in emergency planning, including communications, traffic control and warning operations, to effect a safe and efficient evacuation of the city.
Objective 2.4
The city shall continue to try to reduce the risk of exposure of human life and public and private property to natural disasters through preparedness planning and implementation of hazard mitigation measures.
Policy 2.4.1
The city, in coordination with other agencies, shall continue to maintain and update its local Hurricane Plan.
Policy 2.4.2
The emergency management coordinator, as designated by the city, shall oversee the maintenance and ongoing updates of the hurricane plan; act as a liaison between state, regional, county and city emergency response and planning agencies; and ensure coordination between emergency management and development activities in the city.
Policy 2.4.3
The city shall periodically review existing coastal construction building codes and implement changes to the standards as are found to be appropriate and useful.
Policy 2.4.4
Recognizing the entire community is located within the Coastal High Hazard Area and the 100-year flood plain, the city shall adopt and strictly enforce all appropriate federal, state, and local coastal construction codes, and coastal setback requirements, as amended.
Policy 2.4.5
Special care facilities shall be permitted with the city provided that verification is provided that adequate provisions for safe and efficient evacuation and sheltering are assured.
Policy 2.4.6
The city shall continue to participate, through available programs, with other federal, state and local agencies in seeking, developing, improving and implementing hazard mitigation strategies.