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A Density Too High

Posted by: Nate Berg

1 January 2007 - 5:00am

A traditional neighborhood development planned near St. Petersburg, Florida, is having trouble getting approved because its proposed density is twice as high as the city wants to allow.

"Plans filed at county offices show the developer styling Citrus Ridge -- a 400-unit housing development slated to replace 100 acres of orange groves -- after a 'traditional neighborhood development,' with a recreation center at the development's entrance, alleys, and rear-entry garages. The planning and architectural style emphasizes communities with amenities within walking distance."

"In a Nov. 20 letter to the developer's attorney, county staff said they would not support a high-density 'traditional neighborhood development' in northeast Pasco, and said only two homes per acre would be 'deemed an acceptable density.'"

Full Story: Density, traffic concerns may trip proposed project
Source: The St. Petersburg Times, December 22, 2006
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Sprawl Promoters

Submitted by Charles Siegel on Mon, 01/01/2007 - 15:46.

Amazing. The average density of St. Petersburg is 3.2 homes per acre, but they do not want new development that has more than 2 homes per acre, lowering their average density as their population increases. Even the proposed 4 per acre is fairly low density - less than most traditional walkable neighborhoods.

There should be an award for cities that are the worst promoters of sprawl.

Charles Siegel

Local perspective.

Submitted by maya on Tue, 01/02/2007 - 12:05.

As a point of fact, and as a planner in this region, I feel compelled to clarify a point or two for interested readers. The City of St. Petersburg is actually situated in southern Pinellas county (over 60 miles away from Dade City and the proposed development) and is even more densely populated than the figure offered above- a number which represents the density of neighboring Pasco County. Moreover, planning in the city of St. Petersburg has been highly favorable to compact, mixed-use, new urbanist-style development. South & western Pasco county, on the other hand, is a rapidly (sub)urbanizing area that provides a host of bedroom communites to Tampa-Clearwater-St.Petersburg. The development discussed in this article is located in northeastern Pasco county and is highly rural in character. At this time, there is no infrastructure to adequately support such a level of development. As a supporter of environmentally conscious, compact communities, I believe that approving this traditional neighborhood would be contextually inappropriate and an invitation for even more sprawl in Pasco County.

Thank you for the additional perspective.

Submitted by Dano on Tue, 01/02/2007 - 15:46.

Thank you Maya.

This wasn't included in the story, likely due to the reporter not being up on planning issues.

Best,

D

NIMBYs again

Submitted by Dano on Tue, 01/02/2007 - 08:16.

The decision-makers are responding to the NIMBY voices again. I wonder if these voices tsk-tsk when told another orange grove is disappearing.

Best,

D

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