Indian Rocks tires of boxy look in new buildings

Commissioners will powwow with city planners May 1 to consider new design standards.

By JAN WESNER CHILDS
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 20, 2003

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH -- Developers could be asked to make their buildings look nicer if city commissioners have their way.

The commission wants to review town codes to see if there are ways to better control the rapid development of condominiums and townhomes. The five commissioners have different ideas, including a design code that could dictate what a building looks like, encouraging lower-density development and better enforcing existing zoning laws.

At Wednesday's workshop, commissioners were supposed to discuss various objectives and priorities for the year, but the four-hour meeting focused almost exclusively on development issues.

"For me, it's one of the biggest of the big deals of the year," said Commissioner R.B. Johnson.

Commissioners agreed only that changes need to be made. To figure out what those changes might be, they decided to meet May 1 with the city's Planning and Zoning Commission.

Commissioner Bill Ockunzzi, elected just in March, said he'd like to see the city adopt land development design standards that could make buildings more attractive. He and others said they object to the "boxes" being built up and down the beaches.

Ockunzzi, a former member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, said the city needs to move quickly on setting stricter development rules.

"If we don't get the process going, we're going to see a lot of things happen before we even blink," Ockunzzi said. "Let's go ahead and start raising the bar in terms of what we're going to get."

Other priorities discussed at the Wednesday workshop meeting included:

Holding regular town hall style meetings where residents could voice their concerns and commissioners could brainstorm ideas.

Reducing property taxes.

Expanding youth activities.

Starting a neighborhood watch program.

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