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First reading approved for rezoning at 1410 Wilmot amid neighborhood concerns
Summary
The Panama City Commission completed first reading Aug. 12 of an ordinance to rezone 1410 Wilmot Avenue to Neighborhood General, a change that would allow multi-unit housing where a church once stood.
The Panama City Commission took the first of two readings on Aug. 12 for Ordinance 32-76, which would rezone a 0.424-acre parcel at 1410 Wilmot Avenue to Neighborhood General (NG).
Developer and property owner Tony Medrano told the commission he plans to replace an old church building and build multiunit housing that he said would better fit the surrounding mix of single-family homes and moderate-density housing. In earlier planning-board materials and the public hearing, staff said the planning board recommended approval unanimously. Medrano said he expected four units in conversations but that the design could accommodate six units if parking is arranged in the rear; he described space for up to 12 parking spaces behind the building.
Neighbors and nearby residents urged caution. Several attendees living across Wilmot said they bought single-family homes in the area and were concerned the rezoning would change neighborhood character, increase traffic and create long-term noise and security concerns. One neighbor asked what would happen to the small house on the parcel and whether buffering and tree protection would be required. City development staff said the city’s buffering rules require a solid fence and landscaping along dissimilar uses, and that removal of healthy oak trees would require mitigation per city tree rules.
The commission completed the ordinance’s first reading; staff said additional information requested by commissioners — confirmation on whether a lot split would be feasible, details on buffer dimensions, and a final layout showing parking and tree-protection measures — would be provided before the second reading. Because the matter is before the commission for a second reading, no final rezoning was adopted at this meeting.
City staff noted the proposed NG designation allows greater residential density than the present zoning; commissioners asked staff to bring a clear description of what could be built under NG and to return with plans showing buffering and parking arrangements prior to second reading.
