Expedited Permit Processing for Affordable Housing Activity
Reviews of single-family permit applications are expedited and moved to the front of the queue. They are to be completed within four days of the initial submittal and three days of all subsequent submittals.
Affordable Housing Density Bonus
Mixed-income affordable housing developments may receive bonus units based on the percentage of affordable housing units provided for households making up to 120% AMI. The percentage of affordable housing units includes the bonus units in that calculation.
Affordable Housing Parking Reduction
Parking requirements are reduced for those dwelling units that are affordable and located within a specified distance from a transit stop as outlined within Section 3-920. – Affordable housing incentives of the City of Clearwater Community Development Code.
Affordable Housing Fee Reduction and Subsidy
Building permit fees and multimodal impact fees can be reduced for certified affordable housing projects. Specifically, plan review and permit fees for one- or two-family residential affordable housing projects, as defined in Article 8 and certified by the Economic Development and Housing Department, are reduced by 75%.
Impact fees may be reimbursed for affordable single family home development, subject to funding availability. Parks and Recreation Impact Fees for single-family homes are waived for projects qualifying as affordable housing. The multi-modal impact fee contains a fee reduction for affordable housing projects.
Nonconforming Structures Exemption for Affordable Housing
Any nonconforming structure that is used for affordable housing may be repaired, maintained, or improved at any time without regard to increases in assessed value, as outlined in Nonconforming structures Section 6-102, subsection B, which could have otherwise required the property to be brought up to current code compliance. They are also not constrained by a six-month permit application deadline if damage or destruction occurs to the property, as described in subsection D. Criteria include requirements such as the property may not be in a special flood hazard area, and the exemption shall not be contrary to the public interest or contrary to the Florida Building Code.
Public Amenities Incentives Pool
The Public Amenities Incentives Pool allows for density and/or intensity increases in excess of the allowable maximum development potential established for a parcel for projects that meet the goals, objectives, and policies of the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan and that are consistent with the vision established for the character district in which the projects are located. Specifically, the City of Clearwater’s Planning and Development Department may offer additional du/ac or FAR in exchange for Public Benefits identified in the Community Development Code, including:
- Rental residential units
- Overnight accommodations
- Class A office space
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification
- Public parking
- Public art
- Streetscaping
- Electric vehicle parking spaces
Alternatively, projects may offer payment-in-lieu of a public amenity to receive bonus density.
Comprehensive Infill Redevelopment Projects (CIRP)
The provision of affordable housing is a beneficial use outlined in the development code and thus may qualify as a Comprehensive Infill Redevelopment Projects. CIRPs (or Comp Infill Projects) are development or redevelopment projects that have an innovative use of land, which do not conform to typical land use categories or development forms, or which are otherwise impractical without deviations from the use and/or development standards set forth in the underlying zoning district. Comp Infill Projects are designed and located in a special or innovative form with special functions or character which are beneficial to a particular part of the city of Clearwater and the citizens of the city of Clearwater as a whole, consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Comp Infill Projects are allowed in certain districts and may request certain flexibilities.
HB 1339 and Live Local Act
The Live Local Act provides several land use incentives, including density, height, and parking flexibilities, and tax exemptions which can be utilized to offset the cost of affordable housing development.