After a four-hour discussion about a new residential development proposed for the quiet Old Pasadena neighborhood in west St. Pete, St. Petersburg City Council voted to approve the contentious project. 

During a Thursday meeting, the council members cast a 5-2 vote, approving the Pasadena Community Church's appeal of a prior denial to rezone the property at 6942 1st Avenue South. The rezoning will allow Indianapolis-based developer Onyx+East to build a 60-unit residential development containing 40 townhomes and 20 single-family homes on the site. 

Councilmembers Copley Gerdes and Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz cast the opposing votes. Councilmember John Muhammad was absent.

The subject 5.77-acre property is currently owned by the church, whose sanctuary is on an adjacent property, and contains a soccer field and a preschool/daycare building, which is being replaced by an upgraded facility.

In May, St. Petersburg’s Community Planning and Preservation Commission (CPPC) unanimously denied the church's zoning request for a land use change from Institutional (I) to Residential Medium (RM) as well as the zoning change from Neighborhood Traditional (NT-3) to Neighborhood Suburban Multifamily (NSM-1).

With City Council overturning the CPPC vote, Pasadena Community Church can move forward with plans to sell the property and reinvest the proceeds back into the church’s campus through a major renovation of the main ministry building.

The homes in the development, dubbed Pasadena Groves, will have an average sales price of $750,000, according to Onyx+East.

Some council members expressed concerns about how the zoning change could set a new precedent for development in the area, potentially jeopardizing the character of the old neighborhood; however, denying the requested change could threaten the financial future of the church. 

"We have different needs today and don't have the luxury to hold acres of land with an aging building," said Scott Russell, the church’s Building Oversight Committee Chairman, during the public forum.

He noted how the church is a community asset, feeding 200 families every month and serving hundreds of children who attend their programs. The church is also used as a polling place for elections.

Community members and churchgoers shared stories at the meeting, recalling how generations of family members attended the church and preschool. Most felt that a 60-unit development is too intense for the neighborhood.

Councilmember Gerdes, who represents District 1, sided with opponents in that the land use doesn't "jive" with the neighborhood, and the zoning surrounding the site is misrepresented in what's there today.

On the contrary, Councilmember Richie Floyd said if the appeal is denied, a future application could be filed for a more intense development.

"NSM-1 does seem to be a 'light touch' and fit in with comparable neighborhoods in the city," Floyd said.

Derek Kilborn, the St. Petersburg Urban Planning and Historic Preservation Manager, informed the council that a developer could build up to 152 units utilizing the zoning change and a missing middle housing bonus.

Councilmember Hanewicz also pointed out how the church could one day sell the remaining properties and another application could be submitted with the same basis.

Hanewicz remarked that the Pasadena neighborhood isn’t as large as other St. Pete communities such as the Old Northeast, which has a mix of residential development, and thus, a project of this size would have a greater effect on the neighborhood.

While the project was granted City Council approval, the rezoning request must now go before the Forward Pinellas board in September followed by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners in October.

In the meantime, the developer will continue to work through the design process.

Onyx+East plans to first purchase the western block where the single-family homes will be built. They expect to close on the eastern portion a year later, Rachel Markowitz, Director of Land Development for Onyx+East, said to St. Pete Rising.  

The project team for Pasadena Groves also includes Lincks & Associates, Tampa-based LevelUp Consulting, and St. Pete-based Place Architecture.  

“Our team has worked really hard to get to this point and we are super excited about this opportunity. We understand the city and neighborhood’s perspective and we will build a project that fits the community,” she said.

This will be Onyx+East's third project in St. Pete.

Their first local development was Six Point Row, a 19-unit townhome community constructed at 2611 1st Avenue North in the Grand Central District. Another townhome project, Alante, is actively under construction at 302 15th Street North.