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Planning board approves text amendment to exempt common small repairs from development-order requirement
Summary
The board approved changes to Unified Land Development Code sections that add exceptions to when a development order is required, exempting certain accessory structures under 1,000 sq ft, specified home repairs, and utility/ drainage repairs that do not expand capacity or affect sensitive lands.
The Panama City Planning Board voted 5-0 on May 12 to approve a text amendment to the Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) adding additional exceptions to the requirement to obtain a development order for minor construction and repairs.
Staff told the board the amendment will amend ULDC sections 102-2 and 102-36 to allow additional exceptions, including construction of non-habitable accessory structures under 1,000 square feet; interior or exterior renovation, repair, alteration or maintenance of existing single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes or quadplexes that do not expand square footage or change use; and repair or replacement of utility lines, drainage facilities and other infrastructure when there is no impact to environmentally sensitive lands or expansion of capacity.
A planning staff member described the change as an attempt to reduce procedural burden on routine projects and to focus development-order review on larger projects: "This helps to remove that requirement," the staff member said, characterizing the amendment as a starting point to reduce unnecessary red tape. Staff also said a combined development-order and building-permit application process for single-family projects is in development and could be available in a month or two.
Board members questioned whether the amendment would apply to existing homes and whether a dollar threshold should be added; staff confirmed the exceptions will apply to existing homes and said the amendment does not include a dollar threshold. The board discussed programmatic steps to keep oversight for projects that do increase footprint or require new utility connections.
The board moved to approve the text amendment; the motion passed 5-0.
The change removes the development-order requirement for a set of enumerated, lower-impact building activities, while preserving the city’s authority to require development orders for projects that expand capacity or affect environmentally sensitive lands.
