St. Pete’s planning guru says goodbye

The sun will soon set on Elizabeth Abernethy’s career with the City of St. Petersburg, a “dream job,” but not due to an unprecedented hurricane season exponentially increasing her workload.

As director of planning and development review services, Abernethy oversees the city’s building, zoning and historic preservation operations. The permitting department – currently inundated with storm-related applications – is also under her purview.

Abernethy planned to retire in early 2025 after reaching a “milestone birthday.” Her last day with the city, April 4, could have come sooner if not for Hurricanes Helene and Milton’s one-two punch.

“It did delay my decision, not hasten it,” Abernethy said of the storms. “I wanted to be here for the team for a few extra months. I wanted to see us through the biggest permitting push.”

Abernethy, affectionately known as “Liz,” accomplished her mission.

Liz Abernethy, planning and development services director, presents the award-winning StPete 2050 plan in November 2019. File photo.

The city has approved over 7,500 storm-related permits despite an understaffed department. About 1,500 applications are in progress, and six new hires will soon complete their training and double the current number of reviewers.

Abernethy, 60, said she and her husband needed time to rest before the storms, which “certainly added to the stress level.” They also want to travel and visit family while that window remains open.

“I feel very fulfilled with where I am professionally,” Abernethy said. “I feel like I’ve had an outstanding career. I’m comfortable moving on to this next phase of my life – and figuring out what that is.”

Abernethy has called St. Petersburg home for 30 years. Her personal and professional experience made her an ideal candidate to oversee three departments as the city hit a post-recession growth spurt.

She spent the first decade of her 30-year career with the City of Tampa. Abernethy said there was often departmental crossover, and she added construction services and permitting knowledge to her traditional planning background.

She dedicated another decade to the private sector as a project manager for large developers. Abernethy became St. Petersburg’s zoning official in September 2014.

Her predecessor, Dave Goodwin, also had a wide range of expertise. He needed it to lead five departments.

Former Mayor Rick Kriseman removed economic development operations from planning’s purview when Abernethy filled Goodwin’s vacated role. “The city has grown over the last 10 years – so has the staff, the responsibilities and the workload,” Abernethy said.

Elizabeth Abernethy discusses zoning changes at a St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce event in November 2022. Photo by Mark Parker.

Permitting will now become a separate department in Abernethy’s absence. Despite the prospects of a reduced workload and responsibility, she remained “ready for a change.”

“I’ve had a lot of success here over last 10 years with zoning reform and the number of different really innovative initiatives we’ve been able to accomplish,” Abernethy added. “We’ve accomplished what people in my profession talk about all over the country but usually can’t execute.

“I think my brain just says, after 10 years, push yourself for change. Do something different.”

Abernethy municipal highlights include:

• Leading the StPete2050 community visioning effort, which won a Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association (FAPA) Award of Excellence
• Updating the Downtown Waterfront Master Plan
• Shepherding code changes that allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) citywide and a new “missing middle” zoning district
• Establishing an affordable housing approval process under new state legislation
• Expanding urban agriculture and community garden provisions
• Aligning coastal high-hazard policies and regulations to align with evolving climate threats
• Implementing enhanced protections for grand and signature trees
• Receiving the FAPA’s Outstanding Public Official of the Year Award in September 2024

“Elizabeth Abernethy’s visions and dedication have been instrumental in shaping the future of St. Petersburg,” said Mayor Ken Welch in a prepared statement. “Her innovative approach to urban planning and development has not only preserved the unique character of our city but has also positioned us as a leader in sustainable and inclusive growth.”

From left: Mayor Ken Welch; Liz Abernethy, planning and development services administrator; and James Corbett, city development administrator, at the American Planning Association of Florida’s annual conference in September 2024. Photo: City of St. Petersburg.

Chris Steinocher, president and CEO of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, is one of many local stakeholders who will miss Abernethy’s leadership. He compared her exit to that of Tom Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback in National Football League history, retiring from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“Liz has helped our chamber of commerce understand every play that our community can do well – she knows how to continue to move us forward,” Steinocher continued. “She ran the plays for us, so losing her is going to be a big hit for our community. I’m sure we’ll reorganize to make it better, but … things just got a little harder.”

Abernethy relished serving a city where she bought her first home and raised her son. She stressed the importance of incorporating community feedback into decisions.

Abernethy credited Kriseman and Welch for empowering her to innovate and putting her in a position to garner industry acclaim. While she will miss her team, the city’s interdepartmental collaboration and mentoring the next generation of planning leaders, “it’s time to recover.”

“It’s very rewarding to be able to serve and know my efforts can make a difference in the quality of lives in our city,” Abernethy said. “That’s special. I’ve been very fortunate.”