Commissioner McCann’s op-ed reflects a narrative that paints builders and developers as adversaries rather than contributors to Manatee County’s economic survival. While responsible growth is essential, the reality is simple: without construction and development, our local economy contracts, jobs disappear, and housing affordability worsens.
The building industry is not an outside “special interest.” It is made up of local workers and businesses—builders, electricians, plumbers, engineers, suppliers, truck drivers, realtors, lenders, landscapers, and countless small businesses that depend on a healthy construction economy to survive.
Construction generates billions in economic activity while expanding the tax base that funds roads, schools, public safety, utilities, and environmental improvements. New development creates recurring property tax revenue and pays substantial impact fees, permitting fees, utility costs, and environmental mitigation expenses that support community infrastructure.
The idea that growth should stop until every infrastructure challenge is solved ignores reality. In many cases, new growth is what generates the funding necessary to improve infrastructure in the first place. Equally troubling is the divisive “Anti-Builder” rhetoric. Demonizing an entire industry does not solve problems—it threatens the livelihoods of thousands of local families who work in construction and related trades.
Growth itself is not the problem. Poor planning is. Florida’s environmental regulations are already among the strictest in the nation. Builders routinely preserve wetlands, improve stormwater systems, plant trees, and comply with extensive environmental laws while creating homes and economic opportunity.
If the Manatee County Commission continues its hostile rhetoric toward the industry, the consequences will impact everyone: fewer jobs, higher housing costs, reduced tax revenue, and slower economic growth. The future of Manatee County should not be framed as “residents versus builders.”
The real solution is balanced growth—responsible development, infrastructure investment, environmental stewardship, and economic opportunity working together to sustain the community for future generations.
Jon Mast is the Chief Executive Officer of the Suncoast Builders Association, a trade organization that represents local builders and associated businesses.
4 comments on this item
Only paid subscribers can comment
Please log in to comment by clicking here.
dougeggerrealtor
AMEN, Sir!!!! It'[s abou time someone spoke up for the construction industry and its workers.Thank you.
Wednesday, May 20 Report this
dreed135
Using Mr. Mast’s own words, “The real solution is balanced growth—responsible development, infrastructure investment, environmental stewardship, and economic opportunity working together to sustain the community for future generations.”, I could not agree more. I believe this is all Mr. McCann is seeking.
As I recall, Mr. McCann was quite vocal early in his tenure as a new commissioner that a building moratorium, as suggested by some, not be entertained. Rather, he espoused sound planning in the form of responsible development, infrastructure investment and environmental stewardship for the benefit of our entire citizenry.
It has now long been recognized that growth does not pay for itself. Unbridled growth is even worse and the fact that our state concurrency laws were long ago gutted and our impact fees are kept artificially low are not aiding in any way. Anyone who has lived here for even a decade can readily see the reduction in our quality of life by virtue of our explosive growth bringing congestion to virtually every aspect of our lives. As an individual who has lived on one side or the other of Tampa Bay for all of his seventy-four years and the past forty-eight of them here in Manatee, I feel it every day. The places I played in and enjoyed in my youth simply do not exist anymore. I certainly cannot share them with my children or grandchildren. The wonderful rural feel of Manatee County in the seventies, eighties and even into the turn of the century is now gone. Many people I know, myself included, very often chose not to venture out for simple errands just to avoid the inevitable traffic jambs and extremely unpleasant driving conditions.
As to job loss, many of the tradesmen, vendors and ancillary workers related to the building boom are actually priced out of the housing market by the growth we have been experiencing. Affordable housing has become a joke. The idea that more growth will decrease housing costs is simply not reality. Construction related positions swell as the need for them increases. With sustainable, responsible development, the workforce would size itself accordingly. Workforces have always been mobile throughput our nation and its industry. If infrastructure was developed concurrently with growth, many construction related opportunities would be created just in that enterprise.
Taxes? Manatee County has an untapped excess of collected tax revenue and yet our stormwater management system is in shreds, roads, schools, boat ramps, parks and public safety all lag behind the increased demand fostered by this tremendous population influx.
This is not “Anti-Builder” rhetoric, this is the observation of an individual who has long lived and suffered the consequence of uncontrolled growth without concurrent infrastructure development.
Wednesday, May 20 Report this
GLEN GADFLY GIBELLINA
I am here today to push back against the standard, worn-out narrative that we just read in the recent op-ed defending the development industry. It paints a picture of builders as selfless contributors to our economic survival while labeling any demand for accountability as "divisive, anti-builder rhetoric." Let’s inject some actual history and reality into this room.
The claim that new development pays its fair share through substantial impact fees is flat-out false. The impact fees being collected right now are based on an outdated study, not a current reflection of what it actually costs to build out Manatee County. For decades, infrastructure has never kept pace with the breakneck speed of development in this county, precisely because developers have never paid their fair share. The burden of subsidizing this massive growth has been systematically shifted onto the backs of everyday taxpayers and residents who are stuck sitting in traffic, dealing with overcapacity schools, and watching their quality of life diminish.
Growth is not funding our infrastructure; it is outrunning it.
To understand why this keeps happening, we only have to look at the leadership decisions of this very commission. Let’s not forget that Commissioner Mike Rahn nominated a you Jon Mast a development-industry insider to be the Administrator of this entire county. It was a ridiculous thought from the start, yet the rest of the developer-backed commissioners on this board happily went along with it. The only reason that plan didn't cross the finish line is because negotiations ultimately fell apart over money.
When the people running the county are hand-picked by the industry they are supposed to regulate, it is no wonder the rules are written to favor corporate profits over public infrastructure.
We are constantly told that without unchecked construction, our local economy will contract and housing affordability will worsen. As someone who sits on the Affordable Housing Advisory Board, I can tell you that the explosion of luxury subdivisions and untracked sprawl has done absolutely nothing to solve our attainable housing crisis. In fact, it has accelerated it by driving up land costs and infrastructure deficits.
The future of Manatee County shouldn't be a battle of "residents versus builders," but it absolutely must be a battle of accountability versus corporate giveaways. It is time for this commission to stop acting as a rubber stamp for special interests. We need a modern impact fee structure, real infrastructure planning that precedes development rather than chasing it, and leadership that puts the people of Manatee County first
For the record
Glen GADFLY Gibellina
Candidate for County Commissioner District 4
Sunday, May 24 Report this
David Daniels
Mr Mast writes "Florida’s environmental regulations are already among the strictest in the nation." That is laughably false. Makes me wonder what he is smoking besides cigars. Late last year the Tampa Bay Times published a multi-part investigative report titled: WASTING AWAY. It was about the complete failure of Florida's DEP and other environmental agencies. Part 2 of the report was subtitled:PROTECTING POLLUTERS - FLORIDA LETS BIG COMPANIES POLLUTE WITH IMPUNITY. Scrolling through the report, it is filled with facts that refute Mr Mast. For example: "State leaders know septic tanks spread millions of pounds of nitrogen that fuel destructive algae blooms, yet they allow builders to add thousands of septic tanks each year, a cheap, fast option that has led to sprawling development on pristine scrubland. Lawmakers have refused to mandate inspections on Florida's 2.6 million septic tanks, repeatedly caving to pressure from homebuilders." ...another quote: "Time and time again, the State has failed to take action to cut contamination - to the benefit of the industries that cause it. Lawmaker and regulators have protected the major polluting industries at every turn." Those quotes are just the beginning of the report.
Sunday, May 24 Report this