Doggie Dining, Parking Requirements Get Approval From Planning Agency

Restaurants in Palm Harbor could soon allow their customers to bring their favorite four-legged friend to eat at their establishment. 

The Pinellas County Local Planning Agency on Thursday unanimously approved an amendment to the land development code that would make some outdoor dinning locations dog friendly. 

According to county documents, "The primary purpose of the amendments is to set up a permitting process that authorizes the presence of patrons’ dogs in certain designated outdoor portions of state-licensed public food service establishments, as allowed by Florida statutes."

Final approval of the code amendment would be decided by the Pinellas County Commission in March. 

If approved, Palm Harbor would become the 10th community in the area to approve dog friendly dining. According the planning agency, it contacted eight communities that currently allow doggie dining, and none reported ongoing problems after allowing dogs in restaurants. 

Downtown Parking Requirements Relaxed

The planning agency also unanimously approved a proposed ordinance that would reduce the off-street parking rate for all downtown business uses from 55 to 45 percent. 

In February 2012, county commissioners approved the rate reduction for restaurants and retail but not other uses for downtown, such as office. This amendment would make all parking requirements the same. 

A parking study was done last year by King Engineering to see if there is enough parking in downtown Palm Harbor. 

According to Gordon Beardslee, county planning, the study showed "there is adequate parking for both existing and anticipated development uses in downtown Palm Harbor." 

Final approval will given by county commissioners in March. 

Related-

• Doggie Dining: Restaurant Owners Divided About Implementing It
• Parking Study Results Presented Tuesday

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