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St. Pete Beach officials stunned by vote

They are worried about the logistics of needing voter approval for many new building projects.

By CRISTINA SILVA
Published November 9, 2006

ST. PETE BEACH - Business leaders and city officials were still reeling Wednesday after residents approved a measure that made this small barrier island the first city in Florida to give residents control over where and how things can be built.

Residents approved three city charter amendment changes Tuesday that would give them final say on how tall buildings can be.

Any building taller than 50 feet would now have to go before voters in a referendum. Any major changes to the city's regulations on growth would also have to go on the ballot.

But since St. Pete Beach is the first city to give so much power to residents, they aren't quite sure how the voting process will work.

"This is something that no one else has gone through," said Mayor Ward Friszolowski, who did not support the amendment changes.

Voters also repealed a master development plan that would have allowed for hotels in the city to grow from five stories to 15.

That measure, which was decided by only 20 votes, is being manually recounted by county election officials.

Gary Renfrow, whose family has owned the Alden Beach Resort since 1969, said he was numb.

"There are just so many unknowns," said Renfrow, who has been waiting for four years to get city approval to rebuild his resort. "That is the frustrating part."

Many residents said they voted against the city's proposed plan because few were confident they really understood what was going to be built or how the plan would affect the area.

Lisa Robinson, a sales manager who voted yes on all six amendment questions, said she was worried her taxes would go up if the city became too crowded by new development.

"No one really understood the whole density issue," she said. "We were never against tourism. It was just, well, what do the residents get too."

Wednesday morning, her powder blue 1959 Oldsmobile was still covered in Vote Yes signs.

Cristina Silva can be reached at 727-893-8846 or csilva@sptimes.com.

[Last modified November 9, 2006, 01:59:45]