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Planning board sends amended RV/boat storage rules to city commission after clarifying paving and visibility language
Summary
The board voted 5-0 to recommend changes to the Unified Land Development Code that regulate storage of boats and recreational vehicles in residential areas, replacing language requiring concrete/asphalt with a reference to 'approved paving systems' and narrowing a front‑yard reference to the site visibility triangle.
The Panama City Planning Board voted unanimously to forward an amendment to the Unified Land Development Code governing the storage of recreational vehicles and boats in residential areas, with staff and board members agreeing to two key language changes.
Staff introduced revisions to address earlier board concerns about placement, paving and visibility of stored RVs and boats. The proposed text requires that permitted recreational equipment be placed on paved surfaces and limits commercial use; it also restricts storage within required site visibility triangles to preserve sight lines for vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians.
Board discussion focused on paving options (concrete, asphalt, pavers) and whether gravel should be permitted. Staff said the city’s code references a separate list of approved paving systems and noted gravel is not an approved paving system because of long‑term maintenance and stormwater concerns. Several board members recommended referencing the city’s approved paving systems rather than listing concrete/asphalt explicitly.
Members also questioned phrasing that referred to the “front yard” and how that interacts with visibility triangles and townhouses. The board agreed to remove the explicit front‑yard wording from subsection b.14 and instead rely on a visibility‑triangle restriction (which staff said is defined in the code to protect visibility at streets, driveways and alleys). Staff clarified that the development services director is the official interpreter of the ULDC for enforcement and that driveway setbacks used in review are typically three feet from the property line.
Board member motion language adopted by the board changed subsection b.12 to use “approved paving systems” and removed the front‑yard reference in b.14. The board voted 5-0 to forward the amendment to the City Commission; staff noted the ordinance will go to first reading on Feb. 11 and second reading on Feb. 25.
Several residents spoke during the public comment portion, asking for more precise definitions (for example, how the visibility triangle will be enforced) and how sidewalk and driveway configurations would be handled. Staff said it will provide additional technical background about paving systems and the visibility‑triangle definition to the commission as part of the package.
