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Planning board recommends rezoning of Grace Avenue parcel to commercial with neighbor buffering request
Summary
The board recommended approval (5-0) of a small-scale land-use amendment and rezoning for a parcel on Grace Avenue (BDJS Properties LLC) from Mixed Use 2 to General Commercial 2, with the board asking the owner to consider truck access, buffering and neighborhood impacts; the recommendation goes to the city commission.
The Panama City Planning Board on May 11 recommended approval of a small-scale land-use amendment and rezoning for a parcel on Grace Avenue owned by BDJS Properties LLC, forwarding the recommendation to the city commission with a request that the owner be sensitive to adjacent residential properties.
Staff explained the rezoning from Mixed Use 2 to General Commercial 2 would subject the parcel to larger setbacks and landscape buffers where it adjoins residential property, and that some adjacent Harrison Avenue parcels fall inside the city's Gateway Overlay where certain uses require commission approval. The applicant's representative, Veil Jones, said the change would consolidate odd parcel configuration left after right-of-way changes and would allow more coherent development while increasing setbacks near homes.
Nearby residents, including Veronica Davis (owner of adjacent duplexes) and David Labarre, raised concerns about the loss of residential character, potential for gas stations or car washes, truck access and aging infrastructure (potholes and intermittent water pressure). Staff and the applicant said that gateway uses such as gas stations or vape shops would require city commission approval and that any specific development proposals would still go through technical review for circulation, stormwater, buffering and other mitigation.
A board member moved to recommend approval and to ask that the owner "be good neighbors" and consider impacts such as truck traffic and buffering; the board voted 5-0 to forward the recommendation to the city commission. The city commission will have final authority on allowable uses and may require conditions or additional hearings.
