Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Development Code Amendment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board amends Unified Land Development Code to add development-order exceptions for small work and routine repairs
Summary
The Planning Board approved text amendments to ULDC sections 102-2 and 102-36 to add exceptions to development-order requirements for certain small accessory structures, routine repairs to existing residential units and limited utility/ drainage maintenance; motion passed 5-0.
The Panama City Planning Board approved a text amendment to the Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) to add exceptions to the requirement that all construction or renovation projects obtain a development order.
Staff explained the amendment would add exceptions in sections 102-2 and 102-36 (Development Order Exceptions) so that limited work would not require a separate development order. The examples provided in staff's summary include nonhabitable accessory structures under 1,000 square feet, certain interior and exterior repairs or maintenance to existing single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes (when the work does not increase square footage or change use), and repairs or replacements that do not expand utility capacity, such as roof replacement, window and door replacement, siding repairs, and utility line maintenance where no impact to environmentally sensitive lands or capacity expansion is involved.
Staff also said the city is developing a combined development-order and building-permit application for single-family work to streamline the process; the code change itself was presented as removing the blanket requirement and clarifying where DOs are not necessary. Board members discussed the practical effects, and one board member observed staff bandwidth limitations enforcing DOs for minor projects. After no public comment, the board approved the text amendment on a 5-0 roll call vote.
The amendment narrows the scope of projects that must secure a separate development order but does not eliminate development orders where impacts to sensitive areas or increased capacity are implicated; implementation details such as the combined application will be completed administratively.
