A community group representing more than 1,000 Tierra Verde residents has filed a circuit court petition seeking to nullify St. Petersburg’s approval of a sweeping marina redevelopment, and the central question is whether the approved structures are simply too tall to be legal.
The St. Petersburg Development Review Commission approved Greenleaf Capital’s redevelopment plan for the Tierra Verde Marina last month. The proposal calls for new 72-foot dry boat storage racks, upgrades to existing wet slips, and construction of a new restaurant, bar, and marina office. The project would add 173 storage spots, bringing the marina’s total capacity to 500 boats.
The opposition group, Tierra Verde Next, contends the city applied the wrong height standard when it signed off on the project. The group argues that a Pinellas County overlay for the Tierra Verde area caps building heights at 50 feet — meaning the proposed racks would exceed the legal limit by 22 feet.
“The current proposal is going to add 22 feet to the county code, which says only 50 feet, and that’s what’s legal,” said Melanie Coleman-Simon, spokesperson for Tierra Verde Next. “Our infrastructure is not designed for this. Our residential neighborhood is not designed for 72-foot warehouse structures.”
The marina sits in a jurisdictional gray zone: county land development codes apply to the site, but the property falls under the city of St. Petersburg’s planning authority.
Greenleaf Capital disputes the residents’ legal interpretation, arguing that a 2025 state law bars the county from enforcing height regulations more restrictive than those previously in place. The developer maintains that the prior maximum height of 75 feet remains in effect — making the proposed 72-foot racks compliant. City staff echoed that position at the May DRC hearing, stating that 75 feet is the height allowed by right and that the developer’s 72-foot proposal falls beneath that threshold.
Greenleaf Capital spokesperson Rick Kriseman has described the project as beneficial to both boaters and the surrounding community. The company said it will file a formal legal response defending the DRC’s approval.
The city of St. Petersburg declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.
Meanwhile, MarineMax General Manager Caleb Peavler said the broader Pinellas County area has a documented shortage of dry boat storage, with his St. Petersburg marina typically running at roughly 95% capacity.
Tierra Verde Next said its concerns extend beyond height, including worries about increased traffic, noise and hurricane vulnerability. The group has stated it is not opposed to development outright but wants the racks capped at 50 feet to align with what it says county code allows.
Follow the St. Pete-Clearwater Sun on Facebook, Google, & X
St. Pete-Clearwater Sun: local St. Pete-Clearwater news at PIE-Sun.com
Leave a Reply