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Panama City commission adopts ordinance easing development‑order requirements for small projects
Summary
The Panama City Commission unanimously approved Ordinance 32-66 on June 24, 2025, amending two sections of the Unified Land Development Code to add exceptions to the requirement for development‑order review and approval; staff and the planning board recommended approval.
The Panama City Commission on June 24 unanimously adopted Ordinance 32-66, amending sections 102-2 and 102-36 of the city's Unified Land Development Code to provide additional exceptions to the requirement for development‑order review and approval.
City staff told the commission the change would exempt small developments from the development‑order process. “Staff recommend recommends that the city commission approve the request,” a staff presentation said during the second and final public hearing.
The planning board reviewed the item on May 12 and recommended approval unanimously, staff said. Commissioner Hughes asked for one non‑substantive edit to simplify a size description on page two; staff said the revision narrowed the text to any improvement under 100 square feet would not require review and did not change the substance of the ordinance.
After a brief public hearing with no speakers addressing the ordinance, Commissioner Granger moved to approve, Robin Hamill seconded, and the roll call vote was 5‑0 in favor. The clerk read the ordinance title into the record after passage.
The ordinance text included standard provisions for severability and codification and set an effective date. Staff told the commission the packet contained findings and background materials for the record.
The change applies to local permitting processes and is intended to reduce administrative review for small‑scale improvements; staff indicated the existing packet materials provide further context and the planning board's recommendation is on file.
Looking ahead, implementation will rely on Development Services staff to apply the new exceptions in permit reviews and checklists. The commission did not amend the ordinance further after the single requested edit and took no additional direction to staff.
