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Largo planning board approves two hardship-relief requests to rebuild carports in manufactured-home parks
Summary
The Largo Planning Board approved two hardship-relief requests allowing rebuilt carports to sit 5 feet from internal abutting streets rather than the code’s 8-foot standard, after staff found the applicants met hardship criteria and public commenters urged accommodation for long-term park residents.
The Largo Planning Board on Sept. 4 unanimously approved two hardship-relief requests that will allow rebuilt carports to be placed 5 feet from internal abutting streets in two manufactured-home parks, rather than the 8-foot setback required under the city’s Comprehensive Development Code.
Staff presented both cases and said each property’s carport predated the city’s current development code and had been damaged by Hurricane Helene in 2024. In both presentations staff cited CDC section 15.3.8.b1 (front setback for internal abutting streets) and CDC section 4.3.3 (hardship-relief criteria), and told the board staff had determined the applicants met the hardship criteria. Staff also noted that, if approved, the applicants must complete building permits within 365 days under CDC section 4.3.5.
During public comment on the first case, a resident who said they had lived in the park for seven years urged approval, telling the board, "I've been in that park for 7 years...5 feet in that spot is absolutely fine." Another neighbor told the board photographs on file misrepresented the carport’s location and described low traffic in the circular drive near the unit.
An applicant’s representative described the scope of work in the Ulmerton Road case as limited: keeping the existing footprint, replacing posts and reroofing to meet code. Staff said in both cases the carport would be reconstructed in its original location.
Board members asked staff whether the repeated setback requests indicated a need to revise the code (one member asked whether the city was considering changing the internal abutting-street setback from 8 to 5 feet). Staff said they were aware of the issue, would follow up on potential code updates, and cautioned that state law referenced in the meeting (described in the transcript as "Senate Bill 180") may constrain some local changes.
Both hardship-relief motions passed without recorded opposition. The board recorded the result for the first item as "Motion carries 6–0" and likewise approved the second item by unanimous vote.
Staff reiterated the permit and timing requirements and offered to meet with applicants after the meeting to complete next steps.
