Panama City commission adopts neighborhood planning and zoning package, OKs police pension COLA and sells cell-tower easement; tables impact-fee vote

The Panama City Commission on Jan. 28 approved multiple items the city described as central to its long‑term recovery and downtown redevelopment while setting a schedule for further public workshops on transportation fees and strategic priorities.

The commission unanimously adopted a package of planning and zoning measures that apply neighborhood planning-area designations and three new neighborhood zoning districts to parcels in Glenwood, Millville and Saint Andrews. The panel also approved an ordinance to raise the cost‑of‑living adjustment for future Panama City Police Department pension recipients from 2% to 3%, accepted an unsolicited $742,000 offer for a perpetual easement for a cell tower site and authorized the city attorney to demand compliance from a downtown business that has withheld promised public parking.

Why it matters: The zoning and map actions implement neighborhood plans developed after Hurricane Michael and aim to encourage more walkable, mixed‑use development in long‑neglected neighborhoods. The pension change is a personnel benefit that staff said is already budgeted; proceeds from the cell‑tower sale are slated for Saint Andrews parking improvements. Several items — notably a proposed transportation impact‑fee ordinance — were removed from Wednesday’s agenda and set for community workshops.

Neighborhood plans and zoning package The commission voted 5‑0 to adopt four related measures that together apply the neighborhood planning area (NPA) future land‑use designation and three neighborhood zoning districts (neighborhood downtown, neighborhood general, neighborhood residential) to approximately 2,200 acres in Glenwood, Millville and Saint Andrews.

Planning division manager Joanne Haley and Amy Groves of Dover Cole and Partners gave a joint presentation explaining that the ordinances implement work that began in 2019 and that the changes are intended to reduce front setbacks, lower minimum parking requirements in district cores, encourage "missing middle" housing, and require building fenestration and pedestrian‑oriented features on corridor parcels. Groves said the zoning text and maps were revised after stakeholder meetings held in mid‑2024 and noted that the zoning package includes provisions for conditional use review of neighborhood corner stores and a special‑exception certificate to protect existing lawful uses during a transition period.

Commissioner roll call on the zoning and map ordinances was unanimous: Halligas, Lucas, Granger, Street and Mayor Rowan voted yes on the comprehensive‑plan amendment (Ordinance 32/19), the Unified Land Development Code amendments (Ordinance 3220) and the map ordinances (Ordinances 3223.1 and 3223.2).

Police pension COLA increase On the final reading of Ordinance 3258 the commission voted 5‑0 to increase the Panama City Police Officers Pension Fund annual COLA for future retirees from 2% to 3%. City management told commissioners the change would apply to anyone retiring on or after Sept. 1, 2023; staff said the increase is funded in the current benefit payroll and estimates the cost at $135,452 in the first year, dropping to $47,086 after 15 years. "Staff recommends approval," City Manager Jonathan Button said during the presentation. The motion passed on a roll call vote of five yeses.

Tax increment rebate program The commission also adopted Ordinance 3259, establishing a tax increment rebate program (TIF style rebate) developed by the City of Panama City Community Redevelopment Agency under Florida Statutes chapter 163. The commission voted 5‑0 after staff noted the CRA previously approved the program guidelines and an initial grant agreement subject to the ordinance’s adoption.

Sale of cell‑tower easement; proceeds for Saint Andrews parking Commissioners voted 5‑0 to accept Tower Point's $742,000 offer for a perpetual easement to use a cell‑tower site located behind an underground‑utilities facility and Fire Station No. 2. City staff said proceeds from the sale will be used for parking improvements in and around downtown Saint Andrews. City staff noted that if the easement were later abandoned the property would revert to the city and the city retains access to service the adjacent storm pond and other infrastructure.

Parks advisory committee and other public‑engagement steps The commission rejected a broad, standing citizen advisory board proposal but did approve a narrower motion, 5‑0, instructing staff to form a time‑limited citizens advisory committee focused on parks consolidation and related Parks, Culture & Recreation issues for a six‑month term. Commissioners said the limited scope was intended to produce concrete recommendations in a focused timeframe.

Workshops, transportation impact fee and strategic priorities Staff asked the commission to remove item 6C (the second and final public hearing on the transportation impact fee ordinance) from the Jan. 28 agenda and reconvene the matter after a community workshop; the commission voted 5‑0 to accept that staff request and direct staff to host a workshop with interested parties and return the item no later than the second meeting in March.

On workshop format for strategic priorities, the commission voted 5‑0 to proceed in two steps: a broad, FDOT‑style open house (facilitated and open for written comments) followed by a commission workshop to review the organized feedback and discuss budget priorities for FY2026.

Enforcement letter for downtown business parking, emergency extension The commission instructed the city attorney to send a two‑week demand letter to a downtown property owner who had promised, in exchange for occupying five curbside spaces with HVAC equipment, to provide public parking on nearby private land; commissioners voted 4‑1 to send the letter (Mayor Rowan voted no). The vote followed staff reports and a meeting with the property owner in which the owner said the promised parking could affect the saleability of the property.

Finally, commissioners ratified an extension of the local state of emergency tied to Winter Storm "Enzo" by a 5‑0 vote. The resolution extended the mayor’s earlier executive order through Jan. 31, 2025, as allowed under Florida Statutes.

What commissioners said City Manager Jonathan Button framed several items as implementation steps following prior public planning and CRA decisions, and planning consultant Amy Groves emphasized that the zoning package is meant to reflect neighborhood visioning, replace deep setbacks that inhibit walkability, and permit a wider range of housing types. Commissioners repeatedly asked for clearer public outreach and bounded tasks for citizen committees; several said they wanted a short, actionable advisory window rather than an open‑ended board.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 3258 (Panama City Police pension COLA from 2% to 3% for future retirees): Adopted 5‑0. Cost: staff estimate $135,452/year initially; $47,086/year after 15 years. - Ordinance 3259 (Tax increment rebate/TIF program): Adopted 5‑0. - Ordinance 32/19 (Comprehensive plan amendment to add Neighborhood Planning Area future land‑use category): Adopted 5‑0. - Ordinance 3220 (Amendments to the Unified Land Development Code concerning neighborhood zoning districts): Adopted 5‑0. - Ordinances 3223.1 & 3223.2 (Future land‑use map and zoning map applications for Glenwood, Millville, Saint Andrews; ~2,200 acres): Adopted 5‑0. - Sale of perpetual easement for cell tower to Tower Point ($742,000): Approved 5‑0. Proceeds designated for Saint Andrews parking improvements. - Citizens advisory committee (parks consolidation, 6‑month pilot): Approved 5‑0. - Transportation impact fee (Ordinance 3256/6C): Tabled; staff to hold workshop with stakeholders and return no later than the second meeting in March; motion passed 5‑0 to remove from tonight’s agenda. - Shrimp‑boat/downtown parking enforcement letter (demand to property owner): Authorized 4‑1 (Mayor Rowan opposed). - Strategic priorities workshop format: Commission chose FDOT‑style open house followed by a March workshop; motion passed 5‑0. - Ratify state of emergency extension (winter storm Enzo): Ratified 5‑0.

What comes next Staff will schedule the transportation‑impact‑fee workshop with industry and community stakeholders and bring the item back by the second meeting in March. The commission directed staff to compile the FDOT‑style public open‑house feedback and present organized findings at a March workshop that will include budget discussions for FY2026. Staff will also circulate materials and outreach about the zoning changes and the parks committee’s scope. The cell‑tower sale will proceed under the terms approved, with staff noting the city retains reversion and access protections in the easement.

Ending The commission ended the meeting after routine consent items and audience participation; several residents urged faster infrastructure repairs and clearer public outreach on planning and service priorities. The commission repeatedly stressed that the pending March workshop cycle will be the next venue for public input and for the commission to set budget direction reflective of the feedback it receives.