Panama City planning board backs rezoning for 1410 Wilmot Ave.; neighbors raise traffic and density concerns

The City of Panama City Planning Board voted to recommend rezoning 1410 Wilmot Avenue to Neighborhood General on July 14, sending the application to the City Commission for final action.

The board’s vote follows an application by the owner to rezone the parcel (case CPCPLN20250694) to permit conversion of the former church structure into long-term rental units, including a four-unit layout within the larger building. “Yes, sir. In the same building… dividing it into pieces,” applicant Tony Medrano said when asked whether the plan would create four units.

Neighbors told the board they support reusing a vacant building but worried the broader Neighborhood General designation allows a wider range of uses than the current Neighborhood Residential classification. Robert Gilmore, who lives next door at 1406 Wilmot Avenue, said the neighborhood is a walkable residential area and cautioned that Neighborhood General could allow daycare, corner stores, food establishments or other commercial uses that would alter the area’s character and bring more cars. “Adding multiple family homes will bring too many vacancies to our already congested end of Fourteenth Street,” Gilmore said.

City planning staff explained that Neighborhood General includes all uses allowed in Neighborhood Residential plus higher-intensity options such as live/work units, institutional and civic uses, health care and certain commercial offices, which increases the potential intensity allowed on the parcel. Staff also noted adjacent parcels are zoned Neighborhood General, and that a church use historically could have fit better in the higher-intensity district.

Medrano told the board he does not plan to demolish the existing buildings and that parking for the new units is planned at the rear of the lot, which the applicant said can fit roughly 10 cars. He also said the two structures—the church and an adjacent house—are on a single parcel and that he could split the parcel if the board preferred rezoning only the portion containing the larger building.

After discussion the board moved to recommend approval; the roll call reflected a unanimous recommendation. The board chair stated the matter will now go before the City Commission, with the first reading set for Aug. 12 and a second hearing on Aug. 26.

The planning board’s recommendation is advisory; the City Commission holds final authority on rezoning. Neighbors were told that site constraints such as maximum build-out intensity, setbacks and any future site plan review would further limit what ultimately can be built on the parcel.

The board’s recommendation on July 14 advances the applicant’s request to the commission, where final zoning and any conditions will be decided.