Florida Housing Coalition urges Panama City to pair trust funds, public land and zoning changes to tackle affordable housing

Florida Housing Coalition presenters laid out a five-part local policy toolkit and urged Panama City officials to use it to accelerate affordable housing production and preservation. The toolbox includes (1) diversified funding—local housing trust funds plus federal, state and philanthropic sources; (2) land-use and zoning reforms to allow accessory dwelling units, duplexes and factory-built homes; (3) strategic public–private partnerships; (4) prioritizing the people most in need; and (5) ongoing data tracking to measure results.

"Establishing and sustaining local housing trust funds" was presented as a best practice for gap financing and local control, with presenters stressing that such funds can be structured to be revolving and flexible. The coalition recommended targeting subsidies to households at or below 60%–80% of area median income (AMI) while noting workforce housing needs extend higher; they also advised using fee waivers and tax relief to reduce development costs.

On land, the presenters said Panama City has already identified more than 50 public parcels that could be used for affordable housing and recommended adopting clear land-disposition policies—examples included long leases or one-dollar ground leases coupled with resale restrictions that preserve affordability for 99 years. The coalition cited Collier County's leasing approach and a Port St. Lucy program as models that have produced permanently affordable homes.

Speakers urged modernizing zoning to legalize more housing types and unlock density, and to align housing siting with infrastructure and resilience planning. The coalition recommended conducting a parcel-level analysis to prioritize lots that have infrastructure access and proximity to amenities, then issuing a simple, tiered request for proposals (RFP) limited initially to a manageable set of parcels (for example the first 10–15) to generate early wins.

Presenters described community land trusts (CLTs) as a tool to protect subsidies and preserve affordability in perpetuity. They recommended partnering with existing nonprofits or land-trust institutes for setup and stewardship rather than the city operating a CLT directly. Presenters also noted practical constraints in Florida, including insurance costs and the need to structure ground leases and resale restrictions carefully.

The presentation closed with recommended next steps: a local needs assessment and land analysis to tailor strategies to Panama City's market, coordination with the city CRA and local philanthropies, and launching an RFP process for a first set of parcels while developing CLT partnership options.

The city did not take a formal vote; staff and the coalition agreed to follow up on parcel lists, RFP design and CLT options.