Council approves west St. Pete subdivision 

Builders continue turning to west St. Petersburg for developable space in a city known for its scarcity of vacant land.

At their April 3 meeting, city council members unanimously approved plans for the Seventh Avenue North Villas. The property owner, Clearwater Capital Partners, requested a variance to create four buildable lots on a 1.17-acre site that currently features a two-story single-family home with an expansive yard.

Three of the lots lack frontage on a public street. While multiple groups initially opposed the project, the investment firm agreed to use an adjacent alley for vehicular access and parking rather than a private road.

“It seemed like there was a compromise … in this previous hearing that satisfied the registered opponents’ concerns,” said Councilmember Richie Floyd. “I love to see that.”

Clearwater Capital Partners (CCP) bought the property at 5635 7th Ave. N. for $1.15 million in January 2024. According to its website, the financial services firm manages over $1.4 billion in assets.

Registered opponents with property along the private street included homeowner Christopher Young, Fathers of Our Lady of Mercy, the Diocese of St. Petersburg and the Society of Missionaries of Africa. Four additional residents spoke against the project at a Feb. 5 Development Review Commission (DRC) meeting.

The city received three emails opposing the additional homes. Stakeholder concerns centered around potential flooding, sewer and traffic impacts on the surrounding neighborhood.

The 1.17-acre property at 5635 7th Ave. N. Image: Homes.com.

James Pennington wrote that the neighborhood has preexisting drainage, sewer and infrastructure problems. Those issues have impacted his property – within 300 feet of the site – through “multiple flooding events that have caused extensive damage and costs, as well as decreasing my property value.”

“I oppose any further development in our neighborhood, especially ones that further increase impervious surfaces and stormwater runoff or add additional population to our sanitary sewer system until the existing issues in our neighborhood are fully addressed,” Pennington wrote.

City planner Cheryl Bergailo noted Thursday that the DRC found three additional lots would not increase area flooding, sewer or traffic impacts. “They opined that those are citywide issues – not specific to this neighborhood – and that there’s already a significant amount of impervious coverage on the parcel, which would be removed.”

Officials platted the property for 6.5 lots in 1923 despite it currently featuring one single-family home. CCP plans to separate the land into four buildable lots and retain the home.

The three lots that lack public street access will use a 16-foot alley with sanitary sewer lines. The private road includes a vacated segment of 7th Avenue North between 56th and 58th Streets.

Bergailo said the proposed 3.4 units per acre is “well below” the 15 allowed under the city’s neighborhood traditional zoning. Planning officials believe the application is “in harmony” with the city’s land-use policies.

CPP will demolish a tennis court, two canopied carports, a gazebo and a circular driveway, which the DRC believes will offset new impervious construction. The firm must provide Duke Energy Florida with a public easement.

CPP agreed not to build new driveways along the private street, except for one to the existing home. Before developing the property, the company must remove all property improvements, including walkways and a wooden fence.

CPP must also build a sidewalk along 56th Street. City staff believe the requested variance is the “minimum necessary to make reasonable use of the land.”