St. Pete Beach rejects planning

City voters of St. Pete Beach reversed course and approved three changes to the city charter that eliminate Hometown Democracy-type requirements for voters to approve certain comprehensive plan amendments, redevelopment plans and building-height changes.

Those requirements had been in place since 2006 when approved by voters after a citizens' initiative placed the measures on the ballot. The former charter provisions were blamed for stifling redevelopment of the Pinellas County coastal community, and they led to numerous lawsuits costly to taxpayers. Voters approved terminating the charter provisions by 52% to 54% (see listing below). A fourth change to the charter, making it more difficult to place citizen initiatives on the ballot, narrowly passed with 50.3% support.

Voter turnout for the amendments was about 33%.

• Amendment 1 Passed with 54.18%
• Amendment 2 Passed with 54.07%
• Amendment 3 Passed with 52.93%
• Amendment 4 Passed with 50.3%