St. Pete Beach eases code regulation in Hurricane Milton’s aftermath

ST. PETE BEACH — City commissioners have adopted a 60-day emergency amendment to the local land development code to allow certain storm-damaged items — most notably air conditioners — to be replaced in properties that might otherwise be considered "nonconforming."

Senior planner Brandon Berry said the move aims to "promote expediency in addressing widespread health, safety and welfare issues anticipated in the wake of Hurricane Helene (and) local impacts from Hurricane Milton."

Berry noted the amendment "may be extended under similar circumstances or made permanent through the standard amendment process."

When replaced, equipment such as air conditioning compressors or swimming pool spa filters and pumps normally must meet certain setback regulations regarding their encroachment into yards. That won't be true locally for at least 60 days thanks to the temporary code amendment, which passed unanimously.

Commissioners opted to seek some legal advice regarding certain federal flood regulations before adopting another code amendment related to the elevation of nonconforming structures.

The 60-day provision "proposes allowing residential structures that have incurred substantial storm or other damage to be elevated in place ... regardless of whether they are compliant."

Commissioners will consider the second code amendment at their next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday.

Sewer issues City Manager Fran Robustelli reported on major equipment issues with the city's sewer system during both recent hurricanes.

"We don't have a capacity issue, we have an equipment issue," Robustelli said. "The St. Pete Beach sanitary sewer system includes 21 lift stations facilities that move wastewater to the treatment plant in the city of St. Petersburg. All wastewater collected in St. Pete Beach flows to Master Lift Station One, which is at the end of Boca Ciega, before it is moved off island to the St. Petersburg treatment plant."

During Hurricane Helene, "control panels, including electrical and communications equipment, at eight lift stations were inundated from the storm surge (and) flood damage rendered these lift stations inoperable," she said.

The city manager said the damage will be covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency because the lift stations "were fully operable before the storm."

During Hurricane Milton, "utility power was lost at all 21 lift stations from the high winds," Robustelli said.

Utility power was restored to seven of the lift stations after storm conditions subsided, she added.

The backup generator for Master Lift Station One was damaged and repaired on Saturday, officials said, and bypass pump systems were installed at the eight lift stations impacted by Helene to restore operation of those facilities. On Monday, the city announced that sanitary sewer service for all districts was operational for normal use.

"So this wasn't a capacity problem," Robustelli stressed. "Pump Station One has been on the docket — that is a $6 million project to repair, it's at its end of life. Basically, it was so fragile that it cascaded into massive electrical and lift station problems. We are in a Band-Aid situation at the moment, because we still have nine lift stations that we have to repair and then Pump Station One construction still has to happen. That will stay on bypass power while we do the construction, which is about an 18-month project."

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