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Escambia County planning board backs ordinance to authorize pari‑mutuel card rooms in HCLI zone, adopts radius measurement near schools
Summary
The Escambia County Planning Board voted to recommend approval of an ordinance that would identify state pari‑mutuel card rooms as an authorized use in the HCLI (Commercial and Light Industrial) district and replace the prior distance measurement with a radius-based buffer intended to address proximity to schools.
The Escambia County Planning Board voted to recommend approval of an ordinance to identify state pari‑mutuel card rooms as an authorized use of the HCLI (Commercial and Light Industrial) zoning district and to change how proximity to schools is measured.
Mister Shaffer, planning department staff, described the item as “a public hearing concerning the review of the ordinance, to identify state lisonbee, pari mutuel card rooms as an authorized use of the HCLI Commercial And Light Industrial District previously discussed.” The board then discussed a change requested after input from the school board on how to measure distance from schools.
The ordinance amends multiple code sections listed during the hearing. Board members and the school board’s representative said the draft replaces the existing measurement method with a radius measurement. Mister Adams, identified in the discussion as the school board chairman, said the change was requested for student safety at specific locations, citing Beulah Middle School: “So that situation at Beulah. They had to go by a kid leaving Beulah Middle, walking all the way to Beulah Road, because we don't have a crosswalk across that state road…that's why we ask for the radius.” Adams said the radius approach would prevent uses from locating immediately adjacent to walking routes where students cross busy roads.
Meredith, the applicant’s representative, told the board she supported the ordinance and asked for a favorable recommendation: “No, we're here to answer any questions. We support the ordinance and we just ask that you recommend approval.” A board member moved to recommend approval; Veil seconded the motion. The planning board approved the recommendation by voice/hand vote; the meeting record shows the motion carried but does not list a roll-call tally.
The draft ordinance was described on the record as amending Chapter 3, Section 3-2.11; Chapter 6, Section 6-0.3; and creating Chapter 4, Section 4-7.17 to add the use and the revised measurement method. Board discussion referenced consistency with other code provisions that use radii — for example, medical marijuana location rules — and a prior, broader 1,000-foot measurement that board members said had produced unintended results near some schools.
No public forum speakers were signed up on other agenda items, and no additional amendments to the draft ordinance were recorded in the hearing.
The planning board’s vote is recorded as a recommendation in the meeting minutes; no subsequent action or timeline for county review was specified at the hearing.
