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Commissioners approve ending LURA on one infill home over community objections, 4–1
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Summary
The board voted 4–1 on March 24 to approve termination of a Livable Manatee LURA on a single infill property after the developer said the lot was unmarketable; opponents warned the release could let the parcel be used at market rate and said ads lacked income restrictions.
The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners voted 4–1 on March 24 to approve terminating a Livable Manatee land-use restriction agreement (LURA) on a single infill property on 30th Avenue West after the developer said the site had not attracted eligible buyers.
Developer William Manful told the board he had held the property for more than two years and had paid construction and carrying costs while the house remained unsold. He described repeated vandalism at the site and said he had one investor willing to buy the house for rental use. "I've spent $80,000 on the land," Manful told the board, and said the parcel was "an unmarketable piece of property." He asked the board to release the LURA so the property could be sold and occupied rather than sit vacant.
Board members weighed program integrity against increasing the supply of housing. Commissioner Cruz argued the LURA in this case offered only nonfinancial incentives (rapid permitting and expedited processing), that the developer had held the property in good faith for two years, and that leaving the house vacant could create blight. "At some point, you have to take reputation and experience into consideration that this is a good faith attempt at building something affordable," Cruz said.
Some public commenters and an advisory-committee representative opposed the release. Sheila Fiafkowski, a member of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, said the online listing (first posted July 2024) did not include the income restrictions commonly shown in affordable-housing ads and argued the county should ensure the program was not being exploited.
Staff said the only incentive provided in this case was rapid response and expedited permitting, not financial subsidies. After public comment, the board voted 4–1, with Commissioner McCann recorded in opposition.
The board did not adopt additional program safeguards during the vote. Staff said they will continue to monitor and manage Livable Manatee program use; public commenters asked for clearer advertising that states income eligibility when LURA or similar incentives are used.
