[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6205063,"mediaKeyId","3777129-c12bee5b88b27c29294ea249986b2201","parentId",3777129,"title","CRA virtual workshop weighs Millville outdoor-seating incentives and proposed Third Street pedestrian path","audioSeconds",437,"startMs",2278000,"endMs",2715000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3777129-c12bee5b88b27c29294ea249986b2201&start=2278&end=2715","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3777129-c12bee5b88b27c29294ea249986b2201/thumbnail_2278000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6205063/Panama-City/Bay-County/Florida/CRA-virtual-workshop-weighs-Millville-outdoor-seating-incentives-and-proposed-Third-Street-pedestrian-path","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6205063-023be1cd89d05b0def27a4ef75fd2a9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775244164&Signature=o56vfv6DGNy2WzbY43mXoXiT24dRCK6kDOyjJUAcCQgA5LyREQjRTtMcYT5eBUrUOam8X54sWjVZ54zcJozJqgPVCG0RQXoftrtvA04EDmTnsBJWZQ-7u3L06zEiUeiniWKW6JYecppUVAtTEAWhkGiyzAojs8hvIKcTSHkIIU4WASvDzKoVHaYy3xPj3ZC5MxXvtQzJSBvxgWcmeaAZCzdtDqNiemwFqvsxIjH5J-Ab9G7eF~Gis2DGysHmnSwiHy7TTCoH9Fy6jQOaoFx3dTbNETd93NTvsEkTg2HF9V8ClLpd7PCi6wdpzZIm67c5RpkehcLOTeQuvQ8ZMMflWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Panama City, FL","date","2025-06-11T20:54:53Z","article","City commissioners and CRA staff discussed an outdoor-seating incentive proposal aimed at helping Millville restaurants add patios, decks, lighting and furnishings, and considered pairing that work with a larger streetscape and pedestrian-path project proposed for Third Street.

Mayor Alan introduced the outdoor-seating concept, saying the goal is to “get people outside” and noting that “when patrons of businesses are outside the buildings, people go where people are.” The proposal would aim to reduce administrative burdens and the cost barrier for small restaurants that lack sidewalks or usable frontage.

Michelle Zirkle, CRA program manager, said staff is pursuing a separate but related Third Street project under a Florida Department of Transportation beautification grant and a potential bond. She described the proposal: “We're currently looking into installing a pedestrian path that's about 8 feet wide that would start at Everett and go down to Maple and go from on Maple, from Third to Business 90. This was an an ask in the CRA socials that we had back in February, and we're currently pursuing doing getting a bond to be able to make this happen.”

Workshop participants noted Millville currently has four restaurants inside the CRA boundary; two already have outdoor-seating (cafe) permits and Jean's Oyster Bar received two CRA grants for its outdoor area. Commissioners and staff discussed practical barriers such as parking and safety along Business 98 and suggested starting with sketches and direct outreach to interested restaurant owners to build local buy-in before any engineering or spending.

Staff described related work at Whittington Park (FDOT beautification work expected to be completed at the end of the month) and said the CRA is preparing visual materials for neighborhood outreach. The CRA agreed to return with sketches and examples at the next virtual meeting; no grant approvals or contract awards were made during the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CRA Virtual Workshop","oneSentenceSummary","CRA members discussed an incentive program to help Millville restaurants build outdoor seating and heard staff describe a proposed Third Street pedestrian path and waterfront beautification tied to an FDOT grant and a potential bond.","taxTitle","Panama City, Bay County, Florida","taxId",4834,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6205067,"Panama City CRA workshop explores ‘Spark’ plan to return city parcels to private ownership",1689,521000,2210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3777129-c12bee5b88b27c29294ea249986b2201&start=521&end=2210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3777129-c12bee5b88b27c29294ea249986b2201/thumbnail_521000.jpg","/articles/6205067/Panama-City/Bay-County/Florida/Panama-City-CRA-workshop-explores-Spark-plan-to-return-city-parcels-to-private-ownership","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6205067-9ea4118e81908bbabbd515c3e31242ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1775244164&Signature=ob5bnrVndXLNCWkY0W7IvofvtPaQZhA5qkrqBJgGoTcsl1yL39ARi3ent6PznoNSXplbgMVIAg2JtMaPQCuTkzEg3Xx1d4r1Eq3Jt6dKWlAN8vvk9DtuK-Gv~XvIE~Sy7GMzrtVpo4oUTCNQ5troBsCEG1YWEqUTuUAuXbTDkeX278z3z2OQnF6hKW-zikTAgBlJdxcXttFi0jACi1RM84G6JfW~Av5ADtx7sHVryRyrbsQh4KhPz8qexkC1BJWsRsTdgRAy9hKZfP0HYZoE0XqfyABtVi3fTNxPrfIXoE7VFFPyMbTwWTLTBzkWnCp~Gg399DKuvG-nBaTiBcCs2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Community Redevelopment Agency virtual workshop, Mayor Alan presented a proposed “Spark” program to move idle CRA and city-owned parcels back into private ownership and active use, saying “The easiest way ... is to simply sell them.”

The plan would treat different parcel types differently—MLK commercial corridors, infill residential lots and downtown parcels—and could use sales, deed restrictions, reversion clauses and a points-based scoring system to favor local buyers or projects that match neighborhood priorities. The mayor proposed starting small, with an initial set of parcels and a scoring system that gives extra consideration to local entrepreneurs, preapproved bank commitments or applicants who complete business-development training.

Why it matters: returning city-owned lots to private hands could add tax base, create small-business and housing opportunities, and set development “comps” that encourage bank lending in fragile commercial corridors. Workshop participants repeatedly cautioned against setting people up for failure by transferring property without business coaching or financing support.

Among the alternatives discussed were selling lots at market value; selling at deeply discounted prices to provide equity for borrowers; or placing a small set of parcels into a community land trust to preserve long-term affordability. The workshop also considered incentives such as preapproval letters from banks and bonus scoring for entrepreneurs who have completed local small-business programs.

Commissioner Janice Lucas and other commissioners urged pairing any transfer policy with education and technical assistance. As one board member put it when describing existing local programs: “To date, we've given 29 entrepreneur businesses $90,000 in small loans, a thousand to $5,000, since 2020,” a model some said could be integrated into Spark as a vetting pathway.

Staff said they are preparing updated parcel data and maps; the CRA manager and city staff will provide a spreadsheet of city- and CRA-owned parcels (including address, parcel number, acreage and zoning) and an updated city parcel map expected within about a week. Commissioners asked staff to return with a narrowed list (five to seven parcels) for initial study and to schedule a follow-up CRA virtual meeting in roughly two weeks to continue the discussion.

No motions or formal votes were taken; the item remained in discussion. Speakers recommended a next step of a technical briefing with outside experts; multiple participants suggested a virtual presentation by the Florida Housing Coalition or similar groups to explain community land trusts and other options before staff is given firm direction to execute a program.","At a CRA virtual workshop, city officials and commissioners discussed a proposed “Spark” program to move unused CRA and city-owned parcels back onto the tax rolls through sales, land trusts and targeted incentives for local developers; staff were asked to update parcel lists and follow up with outside housing experts.","actionData","errors"]

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CRA virtual workshop weighs Millville outdoor-seating incentives and proposed Third Street pedestrian path

Panama City CRA workshop explores ‘Spark’ plan to return city parcels to private ownership