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Panama City CRA adopts GAI finding of necessity to expand Saint Andrews redevelopment area, forwards resolution to commission
Summary
The CRA board voted to adopt a finding of necessity from GAI Consultants to expand the Saint Andrews Community Redevelopment Agency boundary and recommended a draft resolution to the city commission; GAI warned adding parcels later would require redoing the study and re-notifying taxing authorities, delaying action by about two months.
The Panama City Community Redevelopment Agency on Feb. 18 adopted a finding of necessity prepared by GAI Consultants that would allow expansion of the Saint Andrews Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) boundaries and forwarded a draft resolution to the City Commission for consideration.
If the City Commission adopts the draft resolution, it will add the participating parcels to the Saint Andrews CRA and establish 2025 as the base year for determining tax increment financing revenues. Staff indicated the resolution would be scheduled for the March 11, 2025 city commission meeting if the CRA board’s recommendation is transmitted.
Laura Smith of GAI Consultants, present to answer questions, explained that adding parcels after the study is complete would require redoing the finding of necessity: the consultants would need to revise maps, re-evaluate parcel characteristics to show a preponderance of slum and blight under Chapter 163, Part III of the Florida Statutes, and re-notify taxing authorities. Smith told the board this would likely add roughly eight weeks to the timeline and would pause related CRA plan updates that are underway.
Board members discussed alternatives, including creating a separate redevelopment district for additional areas such as parcels near Nineteenth Street and Lisenby or Delwood Estates. Staff recommended adopting the current finding as presented to avoid delaying the plan update; the board agreed and voted to recommend adoption of the expanded boundary and the draft resolution to the commission.
A roll-call vote recorded yes votes from Board Member Granger, Board Member Street, Board Member Halligas and Board Member Lucas. The motion passed unanimously.
Next steps identified in the meeting record: staff will transmit the CRA board’s adoption of the finding of necessity and the draft resolution to the City Commission for an expected March 11, 2025 consideration; if the board later requests additional parcels, GAI said the city would need a new finding of necessity and re-notification to taxing authorities.
