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Public comments urge more homeownership in downtown and raise safety concern about police trailers
Summary
During public comment at the March 4 meeting Craig Murtha urged the commission to promote more for‑sale housing downtown to raise household incomes and retail demand; Mark Faucher told the commission the police department's trailers are still missing safety chains and pins and asked for enforcement or external intervention if not corrected.
Two citizens used the March 4 public comment period to raise separate concerns about housing mix and equipment safety in Largo.
Craig Murtha, who identified himself as a Largo resident, said much of recent new construction has been apartments and argued the city should encourage more for‑sale housing such as condominiums and townhomes. Murtha said higher average household incomes in the downtown core would support more restaurants and retail and suggested reviewing the land development code, including height and density allowances, to foster higher‑income housing in the downtown area.
Mark Faucher, who said he completed the city's Citizen Academy in 2011, urged the commission to enforce safety requirements for trailers used by the Largo Police Department. Faucher said trailers were being used around the city without required safety chains and safety pins and that a prior direction from the mayor to correct the issue had not been implemented. He said the condition presents a direct danger to public safety and asked the commission to require a reinspection by Friday or involve county, state or federal authorities. The mayor asked staff to take a look at the matter, and during the meeting Mayor Woody Brown requested staff report back by Thursday; the city clerk recorded a follow‑up request for staff to look into the police trailer chain issue and report back by Thursday.
The commission did not take formal action on Mr. Murtha's housing suggestions during this meeting; commissioners and staff noted the matters raised may inform future land‑use discussions. Staff will investigate the police trailer concern and report back as requested.
