Panama City planning board approves 1-foot variance for dock access at 1206 East Third Street

The Panama City Planning Board approved a variance allowing a 6-foot access (gangway) where the land development code limits access to 5 feet for the property at 1206 East Third Street.

The board voted 4-0 to approve the variance request (case BA VAR2512), which the applicant, Brent Robbins, sought after inspections found the installed gangway to be 6 feet wide. The applicant and multiple speakers addressed the board during a quasi-judicial hearing.

The variance matters because the city's land development code sets a 5-foot maximum width for the access portion of residential docks. Planning staff told the board the applicant submitted an as-built survey and that state and federal permits had been granted; however the city code review identified two provisions not met: the access-width limit and a dock-length provision tied to mean low water depth. Staff…