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Planning board directs staff to draft pari-mutuel card-room ordinance with radius distance measurement
Summary
After discussion of zoning and distance rules, the Escambia County Planning Board asked staff to return with a revised draft ordinance that measures required separation for pari-mutuel card rooms by property-line radius rather than pedestrian walking distance.
At a Feb. 4 meeting the Escambia County Planning Board reviewed draft language to add pari-mutuel card rooms as a permitted use in the heavy commercial/light industrial (HCLI) zoning category and directed staff to return with a revision measuring required separation by radius from property boundary to property boundary.
Chris Shea, attorney for the county, presented a draft ordinance that would add pari-mutuel (card-room) uses to HCLI and define key terms consistent with state statute. The draft also proposed supplemental land-use restrictions including a 1,000-foot separation from places of worship, child-care facilities, K–12 schools, parks or playgrounds, measured “along the shortest route of ordinary pedestrian travel within public rights of way.” The draft would also require a 20-foot vegetative buffer and an 8-foot privacy fence where a facility is adjacent to residential structures.
Board members raised concerns about the measurement method. Several members said the “shortest pedestrian route” approach can create loopholes (for example, when no crosswalk or safe pedestrian route exists), and suggested a standard radius measured from property line to property line or a larger fixed radius to reduce interpretive disputes. Meredith Bush, who said she represents an entity that currently holds a county pari-mutuel license, confirmed no site has been selected and asked that the county be consistent with existing commercial regulations.
County staff and the county attorney told the board both measurement approaches are legally permissible; the choice is a policy one for the board. After discussion, a member moved that staff return with a revised draft using a radius measurement (property-line to property-line) instead of pedestrian-route measurement. The motion was seconded and passed by voice/raised hands; the board agreed to review the revised draft at the March meeting and then forward a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.
The board did not adopt an ordinance at this meeting; it provided direction to staff to draft updated ordinance language and scheduled further review.
