The Panama City Planning Board met Nov. 10 and approved a series of land-use requests, including two variances, a major industrial development and a text amendment to the city's gateway overlay, and it denied a petition to vacate an alleyway in a neighborhood planning area.

Board members Stamps, Barker, Rich and Chairman Neubauer voted in favor of each final action noted on the agenda. The minutes of the Oct. 13 meeting were approved at the start of the session.

The board approved Case 1332, a variance for 2706 East 7th Court where owner John Christopher Mooney and applicant Chris Mooney requested a larger accessory building than allowed under the Unified Land Development Code. Applicant Chris Mooney told the board he "fishes for a living" and needs a larger building to store and work on boats, describing an 18-foot boat and a plan for a 24-by-40 structure to house equipment and a crane.

The board also approved Case 0024, a front-yard setback variance for 1518 Drake Avenue (owner: T and B Property Enterprises LLC; applicant representative identified himself as Sean McNeil) to expand an existing outbuilding by roughly 12 by 40 feet. Staff said the property's rezoning about 10 months earlier created the current setback requirement; staff recommended approval and the board granted the variance.

Case 1030, a major development application for CW Roberts Contracting Inc. to build an 8,000-square-foot warehouse at 122 Center Avenue, was approved with the condition that a commercial development order be issued and technical review committee requirements be met. Erica Ellis of Rutherford Engineering said her office is working with the applicant on the storage building.

The board denied Case 1380, a request by Beatrice Johnson to vacate portions of an alleyway north of East 9th Court. Planning staff recommended denial because the alley is within a neighborhood planning area and alley access is an element of walkability and rear parking in the neighborhood plan. Neighbors testified that maintaining alley access is important for rear garages and parking.

The board recommended approval of a small-scale land-use amendment and rezoning for 1310 Lincoln Drive (owner: City of Panama City; applicant: the Community Redevelopment Agency). Michelle Zirkle of the CRA introduced the request; staff recommended approval and the board passed the recommendation 4-0. That item will go to the City Commission; the first public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 16, 2025, with a second public hearing on Jan. 13, 2026, at the Bay County Chambers.

Finally, the board approved a text amendment to the gateway overlay district (amend sections 102-40 and 104-66 of the Unified Land Development Code). Staff said the amendment adds vape shops to the list of prohibited uses in the gateway and will allow several previously prohibited uses (including bail bonds and pawn shops) to apply for a conditional use permit if they meet specific standards such as separation distances, compatibility with adjacent land uses and signage limits. Planning staff said the gateway overlay applies to major commercial corridors including Business 98, 15th Street, Harrison Avenue, Beck Avenue and 23rd Street.

With no public comments at the end of the agenda, the board adjourned.