The fate of a proposed mixed-use development in downtown Largo remains in limbo after the City Commission voted to deny an amendment to the project’s development agreement.

In August, the Largo Planning Board unanimously approved an amendment that would have increased the residential units to 284 and reduced the required parking to a single garage. This followed the developer, Property Markets Group, acquiring additional land for the project.

However, by the time the item came before the City Commission on October 15th, the timeline for the project had become less concrete, according to Largo City Planner Taylor Hague.

Hague recommended denying the amendment, explaining that “the timeframe is not concrete enough for staff to recommend a further continuation of the item.” He noted that any future agreements related to the project would require final approval and review by the Commission.

Mayor Woody Brown expressed disappointment at the sudden turn of events but remained optimistic about the project’s potential. “I am still excited about this project,” Brown said, “so I don’t want to send the wrong message with the denial of this amendment.”

Commissioner Michael Smith inquired whether the developer had been reaching out to the county for financial assistance, and Hague confirmed that efforts had been made, but were delayed due to the two hurricanes that hit the area in late September and early October.

When Commissioner Jamie Robinson requested more details on the recommendation for denial, Hague stated that the timeline was not concrete enough to warrant continuing the item, as the scale of the development agreement might change.

The Commission ultimately voted 7-0 to deny the amendment, with Vice Mayor Eric Gerard stating that he supported the denial until a more solid plan could be developed.

The decision leaves the proposed mixed-use project in downtown Largo’s 500-600 block of West Bay Drive in limbo once again, with the possibility of a new development agreement or further amendments being considered in the future.

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(Image credit: City of Largo rendering)