Plans for a new residential tower within the gated waterfront community of Marina Bay in southwest St. Pete were unanimously rejected last week.

St. Petersburg’s Development Review Commission voted to deny both a height variance and a site plan modification for a proposed 12-story, 96-unit condo building on a five-acre vacant parcel on Harbor Way South near Eckerd College.

Since acquiring the 67-acre property from Eckerd College in 2003, developer Reza Yazdani has developed it into a coastal residential community with a deep-water marina and 187 homes, including single-family residences, villas, and condominiums along nearly 2,000 feet of the Intracoastal Waterway.

On Wednesday, Yazdani sought approval for a new 150-foot-tall building, exceeding both current zoning limits and a previously approved plan for the site.

The site was approved in 2005 for a 96-unit residential building with a maximum height of 85 feet. A 2007 citywide rezoning later reduced the allowable height on the site to 36 feet.

A new luxury condominium tower will be developed on the Pinellas Bayway, marking the final major development within Marina Bay, a 67-acre gated waterfront community adjacent to Eckerd College and southwest of the Skyway Marina District in St. Petersburg.

Marina Bay developer Reza Yazdani plans to submit plans in early October to the City of St. Pete for the Marina Bay Residence, a 12-story condominium tower featuring panoramic views of Boca Ciega Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

The $120 million project will include 96 residential units, two levels of parking, and a suite of upscale amenities.

Since acquiring the initial Marina Bay property from Eckerd College in 2003, Yazdani has transformed the site into a premier coastal residential enclave featuring a deep-water marina and 187 homes, including single-family residences, villas, and condominiums located along almost 2,000 feet of the Intracoastal Waterway.