Commission approves rezoning of 1,200-acre Panama City parcel to PUD; applicant to phase development and supply traffic studies

The Panama City Commission unanimously approved Ordinance 3267 on June 24 to zone approximately 1,200 acres at 63 S 12 W-1 (parcel ID 03875-000-000) as a planned unit development (PUD).

Ray Greer, the applicant's representative, addressed the commission under oath and said the rezoning is the procedural step to establish a PUD zoning designation; future development plans and development orders would come back to the commission in phases. Greer told commissioners the comprehensive-plan land use and a large-scale traffic analysis were completed for a buildout scenario the applicant used: a maximum of 1,800 residential units and 450,000 square feet of commercial space across the full property. "In the PUD, the PUD does require traffic analysis... we analyzed the traffic for the entire development," Greer said, and added that phase-specific traffic studies will be required at each development phase.

Greer and commissioners noted many of the surface streets adjacent to the property are under county or state jurisdiction; driveway connections and certain capacity improvements will require coordination with Bay County and the Florida Department of Transportation. Greer stated the project's traffic analysis took into account planned improvements at Star Avenue and US-231 and said some impacts on US-231 would be reduced when planned six-laning is completed.

Staff noted the item previously received a unanimous recommendation from the Planning Board and recommended approval. The commission recorded the vote as 5–0.

Commissioners and staff said a future feasibility and development plan process will include more detailed, phase-level traffic, water and sewer analysis and required permitting. The rezoning does not itself authorize construction; specific development orders, site plans and development phases must be submitted and approved before vertical construction begins.