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Commission approves MOU allowing density bonus for 300 LaVerne Ave. in exchange for public amenities
Summary
The city commission approved an MOU with the developer of 300 LaVerne Ave. to allow density bonuses (up to 60 units/acre and FAR exceptions) in exchange for public benefits — promenade, parking, rooftop amenity and coordination of easements — with planning-board review and conditions attached.
Panama City’s commission approved a memorandum of understanding Feb. 24 with Maslena Investments LLC and McKenzie Partners LLC that allows use of density bonuses for a major downtown development at 300 LaVerne Avenue in exchange for public amenities and easement coordination.
Michael Fuller, the city’s Director of Development Services, told the commission that the MOU authorizes the use of density bonuses (up to 60 units per acre and possible FAR increases) and establishes proposed public benefits — a waterfront promenade, public parking, a rooftop amenity, and a motor court/plaza — and that the MOU is the starting point for a formal development-order submission and planning review. Fuller said the planning board makes the final decisions on major developments under the Unified Land Development Code, and the commission’s approval provides the developer confidence to proceed to finalize plans.
Commissioners emphasized the need for the promised public amenities to be delivered during later reviews and asked staff and the planning commission to ensure parking and public-access commitments are enforceable in the development-order process. The commission voted to approve the MOU; staff said the project will return through the planning and permitting process for detailed review and conditions.
