Panama City Commission adopts expansion of St. Andrews community redevelopment area

The City Commission of Panama City on April 8 adopted Resolution 20250408.1 to expand the boundaries of the St. Andrews Community Redevelopment Area, a measure staff said responds to a GAI Consultants finding of necessity and Florida statutory criteria.

Staff presented background and a map showing the proposed expansion and noted that the County will retain 26% of incremental tax revenue generated by parcels in the expanded area. The staff report said the planning and CRE staff worked with county staff on that revenue split; staff recommended approval. The commission then opened a public hearing before voting to adopt the resolution.

The measure matters because a community redevelopment area, or CRA, allows tax increment revenues produced inside the designated area to be reinvested in streets, stormwater, sidewalks and other public improvements within that area rather than going into the general fund. City staff cited Florida Statutes chapter 163, part 3, and a findings-of-necessity study by GAI Consultants as the legal basis for the action.

During public comment several residents said they supported investment but raised local issues they said the CRA should address. Derek Thomas, a resident of West 10th Street, told commissioners the report’s photos omitted nearby boat-trailer parking at the St. Andrews Marina and said a rusty dumpster and a boat on a trailer had blocked one of roughly seven trailer spaces during construction, which, he said, has limited public access to boat launching. City staff responded that parts of the marina are being used as a laydown yard for construction of 50 new slips and that staff and the contractor would review temporary parking and possible additional trailer parking behind nearby businesses.

Another speaker who identified himself as Mercer, a property owner within the expansion area, asked how a CRA would affect residential properties and said he worried about development and displacement. Staff replied that the CRA aims to invest tax increment dollars in public infrastructure—paving, stormwater, sidewalks, blight remediation and safety measures—and that there were no parcel-level redevelopment plans attached to the finding of necessity.

Commissioners moved and seconded the resolution without amendment. City Clerk Miss Smith recorded the roll call: Commissioner Street, Commissioner Halligas, Commissioner Lucas and Mayor Michael X. Rowan Sr. all voted yes. The motion passed 4-0 and the commission adopted Resolution 20250408.1.

The resolution text, as read on the record, cites the findings of necessity study, finds blight conditions within the study area under Florida Statutes chapter 163, and authorizes execution of an interlocal agreement with Bay County defining the revenue sharing and limits of the expansion. The resolution also included standard severability and effective-date language.

City staff said the county’s retention of 26% of the increment for this expansion differs from an earlier Downtown North expansion, where the county retained 15%, and that the split was negotiated with county representatives. Staff recommended and the commission accepted the finding-of-necessity study and map as presented.

Commissioners said they were glad to see the expansion move forward and invited staff to follow up on the marina parking concerns before construction of additional phases.