Pinellas Park council approves mixed‑use planned‑unit development at 7725 78th Street North

Pinellas Park — The City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 4245 on second and final reading to approve a mixed‑use planned‑unit development overlay for roughly 5.98 acres at 7725 78th Street North.

Staff presented the request as case PUD‑1224‑1. Development Review Manager Megan Monino said the proposal would retain the existing 20,400‑square‑foot wedding venue and cell tower, and add a four‑story, 32‑unit multifamily building and about 4,000 square feet of commercial space. Monino told the council the project meets the city’s comprehensive‑plan goals and zoning intent, noted portions of the site lie in flood zones including Flood Zone AE, and said the applicant proposes 200 parking spaces where 148 are required by code.

The Planning & Zoning Commission had previously recommended approval with a condition restricting balconies on the east elevation. During council discussion, members asked whether balconies would face residences; applicant representative Matt Silverine of Golf Coast Consulting said balconies would face the parking lot to the north and west and that the east elevation would have walkways rather than usable balconies. Silverine said, “we could propose a wall there, flat wall so that it’s completely enclosed,” and indicated the team was willing to close the east side.

Council amended the ordinance to require a solid wall on the east‑facing walkways so residents cannot look out toward neighboring properties, and then voted to adopt the ordinance. The council recorded the vote as unanimous.

Why it matters: the approval enables a mixed‑use redevelopment in a portion of the city with both commercial and residential neighbors, adds market‑rate multifamily housing and commercial square footage, and establishes a design condition intended to buffer adjacent residences. Staff and the applicant said the project would provide more parking than the minimum required and reduce overall density compared with an earlier plan the council had previously approved but let lapse.

Next steps: The approval reauthorizes the PUD overlay and allows the applicant to proceed to permitting and site work consistent with the ordinance and conditions. Any required permits related to floodplain management, stormwater vaults or site construction will be processed by city staff.