St. Pete leaders allow secondary dwelling on properties to target current housing crisis

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – St. Petersburg residents can now create accent dwelling models or garage apartments on their home’s home immediately after metropolis council officially accredited the housing selection Thursday.

The town of St. Pete expanded accessory dwelling models (ADU) in more parts all through a remaining public hearing on the ordinance, in hopes of assisting the area’s housing disaster by delivering additional selections. Householders will have to follow a 60/40 ratio for their residence to make absolutely sure their main home takes up 60 %, and the ADU requires up 40 percent of the spot. Parking areas would be waived in sure instances. 

ADUs are also known as granny flats or mom-in-regulation suites, and the transform now enables homeowners to insert a location for lease to family and buddies or strangers. 

Connected: St. Pete householders could rent area on house to help fix affordable housing disaster

Just one St Pete resident who spoke during general public remark mentioned she could not build what she needed for a though because of the city’s zoning. Now the city just gave her the green mild.

“I’m heading to incorporate an further dwelling unit to my home. It will be a rental. It will be an affordable rental, and I imagine the city desires much more of that. We know we want much more of that,” mentioned Robin O’Dell, a St. Pete resident who life on a half-acre house.

But there continued to be pushback from a number of people in the Snell Isle neighborhood. They explained they felt it was not a superior thought to let ADUs in coastal substantial hazard neighborhoods like theirs for the reason that of constant flooding.

“All the dollars that we are paying out to help the sea grasses, the manatees, we may well be combating versus these aims by letting unsupported places for further advancement,” claimed Lore Ayoub, a St. Pete resident who reported she has lived in an ADU at 1 place and supports them as housing alternatives.

The town planners claimed there are a tiny variety of those coastal higher hazard tons impacted in the all round number of eligible qualities added by the ordinance.

Only 1 out of the six council customers voted versus the ADUS, and council member Ed Montanari mentioned he agreed with some fears from inhabitants that ADUs could alter a neighborhood’s character.