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Council clears Thomas Drive club after setting outdoor‑music curfew
Summary
Council approved a large conditional‑use request allowing Tootsies to open at 8795 Thomas Drive (3.67 acres), with planning‑board conditions including a police security assessment and a ban on outdoor amplified music after 10 p.m. The applicant said entertainment will be primarily indoors; no affected parties appeared.
Panama City Beach — The City Council approved a large conditional‑use permit for Tootszie South LLC to convert the former Sper site at 8795 Thomas Drive into a three‑story club/lounge, with a specific condition prohibiting outdoor amplified music after 10 p.m.
Staff reported the application met the city’s criteria for a large conditional use and noted the Planning Board’s recommendation for two conditions: require the police chief to advise on the number of security professionals for peak periods and prohibit outdoor amplified music from 10 p.m. to close year‑round. Chief Talmentes told council he had no additional public‑safety concerns beyond existing city ordinances and enforcement mechanisms.
Applicant representatives — Robert Carroll (engineer) and Cole Cunningham (operator) — described the project as an indoor entertainment venue with two internal stages, a kitchen, and a design intended to limit noise impacts on adjacent properties. Carroll said the east wall nearest a condominium is built with heavy soundproofing "like you would have in a movie theater." The property is 3.67 acres in CH (Commercial High Intensity) zoning and is in the FBO4 overlay district.
Council members questioned operational plans for beach access, queuing for ride‑share drop‑offs, internal parking and traffic circulation and heard that the operator plans to use internal queuing to avoid backups on Thomas Drive. No affected parties spoke during the evidentiary portion, and the applicant offered no rebuttal. Council moved to approve the conditional use and amended the order to include the Planning Board’s outdoor amplified‑music restriction; roll call was unanimous in favor.
What happens next: Staff will craft the conditional‑use order consistent with the Planning Board conditions (security coordination with police and a year‑round prohibition on amplified outdoor music after 10 p.m.). If the operator wants special events on the beach or outdoor amplified events, those would require separate special‑event permits.
