City of Clearwater – City Council Meeting - 10/14/2026

The October 14, 2026, Clearwater City Council meeting focused on a public-private partnership proposal to redevelop the city-owned Landing Golf Course. Following review of an unsolicited proposal from Sunshine Recreational and Entertainment LLC and a competing submission from Clearwater Golf Associates, the evaluation committee ranked Sunshine first. Council voted 4-0 to accept the committee’s recommendation and authorize staff to negotiate an interim agreement with Sunshine. The interim agreement would allow planning, engineering, environmental studies, and financing due diligence while negotiations continue; it is not approval of a final development agreement or a commitment to build the project. The proposed complex includes sports fields, a fieldhouse, pickleball courts, aquatic attractions, restaurants, and trails. A council member cited projected city revenue of more than $7.7 million and an expected Pinellas County tourism-development contribution of $85 million; a project representative separately claimed more than $75 million in annual direct economic impact. These figures were presented during discussion and were not independently confirmed in the transcript.

Public comments raised concerns about neighborhood impacts, traffic, lighting, flooding, environmental remediation, the project’s scale, public-land use, and the transparency and timing of the P3 process; other speakers supported the proposal as a needed facility for local youth sports and economic activity. Council members supporting negotiations emphasized that financial obligations, lease terms, maintenance, environmental safeguards, and neighborhood protections must be examined before any final decision. Separately, council unanimously approved two North Greenwood land-use and redevelopment-overlay ordinances, with staff noting that related zoning standards and further process steps remain. No other procurement awards were identified.