§ 16.20.120.7. Building envelope: Maximum height and minimum setbacks.

16.20.120.7.1. Maximum building height.

Height restrictions are based upon the approval process sought by the applicant and the location of the property.

The height restrictions do not correlate directly to the zoning districts. They are designed to concentrate heights within the core area of the downtown and then step down toward the surrounding neighborhoods. The height map establishes the specific locations of height restrictions. In addition to the height restrictions limits specified on the map, the following criteria shall apply:

Buildings shall not exceed FAA height limitations unless approval is obtained from the FAA.

All buildings receiving additional height using the bonus approval, streamline process shall have a decorative crown feature compatible with the architectural style of the building.

All buildings receiving additional height using the bonus approval, public hearing process shall have a decorative crown feature compatible with the architectural style of the building and are encouraged to have decorative up lighting and crown lighting.

Height Restrictions Map

16.20.120.7.2. Minimum building setbacks.

A.

The downtown center allows the most intensive development within the City. Conversely, the downtown retains the charm and scale of a small city. To maintain the small-scale character, all buildings should create a strong presence at the sidewalk edge consistent with development within the traditional downtown. Buildings should be constructed within a building envelope, stepping back from the street or provide for a smaller floor plate. Either method creates space between buildings to allow light and air at the sidewalk level. Buildings which create blank walls along all edges of the development, without breaks, are discouraged.

B.

The massing of buildings will be regulated by setbacks, distance between buildings, maximum floor plates and in some districts building width. The rationale for each regulation is described as follows:

1.

Building setbacks from public streets. The charm of downtown St. Petersburg is derived from its wide rights-of-way and small scale feel generally consisting of two- to four-story buildings. While high-rise buildings have been built throughout all development periods including the 1920's, the predominant scale respects a ratio of height to street width of no more than 1:1. To protect this ratio, larger buildings are required at certain heights to step back from the street. This break in height reinforces the pedestrian feel at the street, assists with creating a strong base to each building and furthers the charm and character that distinguishes St. Petersburg from other larger cities.

2.

Distance between buildings. Buildings should be designed and situated to allow for air and light circulation between adjacent buildings on site and off site. In some cases, this separation requirement will be accommodated through existing rights-of-way, including alleys. In other cases, buildings with internal lot lines and development proposals with multiple buildings on a single site should be designed and situated accordingly.

The width of rights-of-way shall be included within the distance between buildings measurement. The minimum distance between buildings shall be split equally along a shared property line to determine the minimum building setback required. For example, when an existing building on a neighboring property is located within its half of the split distance, the proposed building is only required to provide a minimum distance between buildings equal to one-half of the required distance between buildings regardless of whether the resulting distance between buildings is less than the requirement stated in the following table. Building and life safety regulations may require additional building setbacks. When new construction is proposed which abuts an existing structure with a window wall facing the new construction, if the property owner of the existing structure provides an irrevocable, sworn statement of "no objection" to allowing the new construction to be closer to the window wall than is allowed, then no "blank wall to window wall" setback shall be required. The sworn statement, shall include the legal description of the property, shall be in a form approved by the POD, and shall be recorded in the public records.

3.

The maximum floor plate. To maintain an appropriate scale conducive with quality development and within the character of the City, larger projects may require multiple towers versus a single tower of a substantially larger size.

4.

Shared elevator and stair banks. Elevator banks and stair banks may be shared. Such elements shall create a visible break between buildings.

Building Massing and Form Table

Building Massing and Form
DC-Core
Setbacks along streets, excluding alleys
• 0—200 ft. high	0 ft.
• Above 200 ft.	10 ft.
Exemptions: • For lots of record that are equal to or less than 50 ft. in depth or 12,000 sq. ft. in total area, the 10-foot setback above 200 ft. is not required. • When buildings have a first floor plate of less than 16,000 sq. ft., the 10-foot setback above 200 ft. is encouraged but not required.
Distances between buildings
•  Blank wall to blank wall, up to 75 ft. high	0 ft.
•  Blank or window wall to window wall up to 75 ft. high	15 ft.
•  All conditions 75 ft. to 200 ft. high	40 ft.
•  All conditions above 200 ft.	60 ft.
Exemptions:  For all conditions above 75 ft. on lots of record with an average lot width equal to or less than 120 ft., the property shall qualify for a reduced minimum interior building setback from each interior, shared property line. The reduced setback shall be equal to 25% of the lot width, or 15 feet, whichever is greater. This setback shall be measured from the interior, shared property line. This reduction is not a substitute for the "distance between buildings" requirement when measured across public alleys or between multiple buildings on a single property and shall not be used in conjunction with the one-half "distance between buildings" measurement provided for in this Section.
Maximum floor plate above 75 ft.	30,000 sq. ft. per building
DC-1 (East of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street)
Setbacks along streets, excluding alleys
• 0 to 75 ft. high	0 ft.
• Above 75 ft.	10 ft.
Exemptions: • For lots of record that are equal to or less than 50 ft. in depth or 12,000 sq. ft. in total area, the 10-foot setback above 75 ft. is not required. • When buildings have a first floor plate of less than 16,000 sq. ft., the 10-foot setback above 75 ft. is encouraged but not required. • For buildings that do not exceed 95 ft. in height, the 10-foot setback above 75 ft. is not required.
Distances between buildings
• Blank wall to blank wall, up to 75 ft. high	0 ft.
• Blank or window wall to window wall up to 75 ft. high	15 ft.
• All conditions above 75 ft.	60 ft.
Exemptions:  For all conditions above 75 ft. on lots of record with an average lot width equal to or less than 120 ft., the property shall qualify for a reduced minimum interior building setback from each interior, shared property line. The reduced setback shall be equal to 25% of the lot width, or 15 feet, whichever is greater. This setback shall be measured from the interior, shared property line. This reduction is not a substitute for the "distance between buildings" requirement when measured across public alleys or between multiple buildings on a single property and shall not be used in conjunction with the one-half "distance between buildings" measurement provided for in this Section.
Maximum floor plate above 75 ft.	30,000 sq. ft. per building
DC-1 (West of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street) and DC-2
Setbacks along street, excluding alleys
• 0 to 50 ft. high	0 ft.
• Above 50 ft.	10 ft.
Exemptions: • For lots of record that are equal to or less than 50 ft. in depth or 8,000 sq. ft. in total area, the 10-foot setback above 50 ft. is not required. • When buildings have a first floor plate of less than 16,000 sq. ft., the 10-foot setback above 50 ft. is encouraged but not required. • For buildings that do not exceed 75 ft. in height, the 10-foot setback above 50 ft. is not required.
Distances between buildings
• Blank wall to blank wall, up to 50 ft. high	0 ft.
• Blank or window wall to window wall up to 50 ft. high	15 ft.
• All conditions 50 ft. to 200 ft. high	60 ft.
• All conditions above 200 ft.	80 ft.
Exemptions:  For all conditions above 50 ft. on lots of record with an average lot width equal to or less than 120 ft., the property shall qualify for a reduced minimum interior building setback from each interior, shared property line. The reduced setback shall be equal to 25% of the lot width, or 15 feet, whichever is greater. This setback shall be measured from the interior, shared property line. This reduction is not a substitute for the "distance between buildings" requirement when measured across public alleys or between multiple buildings on a single property and shall not be used in conjunction with the one-half "distance between buildings" measurement provided for in this Section.
Maximum floor plate above 50 ft.	20,000 sq. ft. per building
DC-3
Setbacks along streets, excluding alleys
• 0 to 50 ft. high	0 ft.
• Above 50 ft.	20 ft.
• Above 50 ft. and adjacent to Beach Drive: From the 20-foot setback along Beach Drive a line will be drawn at a 60 degree angle towards the setback from First Street. This line shall create the envelope in which the building must fit.	60 degree angle
Distances between buildings
• Blank wall to blank wall, up to 50 ft. high	0 ft.
• Blank or window wall to window wall up to 50 ft. high	15 ft.
• All conditions 50 ft. to 300 ft. high	60 ft.
• All conditions above 300 ft.	80 ft.
Exemptions:  For all conditions above 50 ft. on lots of record with an average lot width equal to or less than 120 ft., the property shall qualify for a reduced minimum interior building setback from each interior, shared property line. The reduced setback shall be equal to 25% of the lot width, or 15 feet, whichever is greater. This setback shall be measured from the interior, shared property line. This reduction is not a substitute for the "distance between buildings" requirement when measured across public alleys or between multiple buildings on a single property and shall not be used in conjunction with the one-half "distance between buildings" measurement provided for in this Section.
Maximum floor plate above 50 ft.	15,000 sq. ft.
Maximum building width above 50 ft.	Each facade shall be less than 120 ft. wide

 

16.20.120.7.3. Minimum ground level open space.

A.

Ground level open space shall be required in all DC districts. The minimum ground level open space shall be at least five percent of the total land area of the site. This ground level open space shall not have any portion of a building above it and shall be at least 50 percent pervious. Ground level open space shall be adjacent to the right-of-way, shall be linked to the right-of-way, and shall be available for use by the public during the hours the building is accessible to the public. When a building has at least 50 percent gross floor area of residential uses, the ground level open space may be secured for the exclusive use of the occupants of the building, but shall remain visible to pedestrians along all abutting public sidewalks. Open space includes but is not limited to ground-level courtyards, plazas, sidewalks, and landscaped areas, but does not include parking spaces, driveways, alleys, and other vehicular use areas, nor does it include required vehicular use landscaping areas.

B.

Instead of providing open space within the DC-C or DC-1 districts, a payment in lieu of open space of one percent of total construction cost may be made into the City's "open space" trust fund that will provide for the purchase or improvement of an existing downtown park or downtown right-of-way improvements.

(Code 1992, § 16.20.120.7; Ord. No. 876-G, § 13, 2-21-2008; Ord. No. 936-G, § 1, 6-18-2009; Ord. No. 937-G, § 1, 6-18-2009; Ord. No. 50-H, § 1, 10-18-2012; Ord. No. 123-H, § 1, 8-28-2014)