Commission holds first readings of multiple land-development code changes tied to state law and stormwater standards

Panama City commissioners held first readings Oct. 28 on a set of proposed Unified Land Development Code changes that staff said are needed to comply with new state law and to strengthen local stormwater and subdivision processing rules.

The first-reading items included proposed amendments to: (1) administrative plat and subdivision review procedures (ordinance 32-85), a local code update staff said implements Senate Bill 784; (2) developer stormwater, erosion control and design standards (ordinance 32-88); and (3) mixed-use MU-2 density changes (ordinance 32-89, first reading increasing density from 10 to 12 units per acre). Planning board recommended approval for each item and staff concurred.

Commission discussion emphasized two themes: legal compliance with the state statute that requires administrative plat processing for certain subdivisions, and local concerns about stormwater resiliency in existing, inner-city neighborhoods. Director of Development Services Michael Fuller and City Engineer Stacy Rausch briefed the commission on statutory requirements and the scope of stormwater code changes. Rausch said the ordinance is citywide, not coastal-only, and described possible green infrastructure alternatives (bioswales, rain gardens) and the need for current geotechnical reports.

Several commissioners asked staff for more granular information, including whether the proposed language would force the city to cede approval authority for plats, and whether there are parts of the code that could be retained locally. Commissioner Street asked for a memo explaining what the ordinance changes will do and whether any provisions go beyond state requirements. Staff agreed to prepare additional detail for members before final readings.

Separately, the commission denied (5-0) a quasi-judicial request to change the future land use and zoning for 1018 Oak Avenue, where the planning board had recommended denial; commissioners noted there was no public support at the hearing.

Next steps: Staff will provide the requested clarifying memo on SB 784 implications and proposed code cleanups; any final adoption votes will come back to the commission after that work and outreach.