The Panama City Commission conducted second‑and‑final public hearings Oct. 28 and unanimously readopted two previously adopted neighborhood planning ordinances to cure a state transmittal issue. Staff explained the City adopted neighborhood zoning districts in 2021 after a neighborhood visioning process; however, the Department of Commerce (FCOM) indicated it had no record of the required transmittal following the earlier adoption. To meet the statutory transmittal window and clear the administrative record, staff recommended readoption with an updated adoption date and immediate transmittal to the state.

Ordinance 32‑19 reestablishes the neighborhood planning area district future land use category and associated text changes; Ordinance 32‑23.1 amends the Future Land Use Map to reflect the neighborhood planning area district designation within the Glenwood, Millville and St. Andrews neighborhood plan boundaries. The planning board had previously recommended approval on both items, and the commission voted 5‑0 to readopt both ordinances.

Public comment during the hearing included resident concerns about density and protections for long‑time homeowners; the commissioners confirmed the readoption does not change the substance of the ordinances beyond the adoption date and is intended solely to allow timely state transmittal.

What’s next: Staff will transmit the readopted ordinances to the state land planning agency for review and ensure the local code and land development regulations align with the comprehensive plan changes.