Panama City officials discuss neighborhood plans for historic areas

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – In a move that has been years in the making, Panama City commissioners discussed the creation of neighborhood plans for the historic areas of Glenwood, Millville and St. during Tuesday’s commission meeting. Andrews. The visioning process, which began in 2020, aims to address the specific needs of these communities while maintaining their historical integrity.

The neighborhood’s master plan focuses on implementing new codes and regulations for these historic districts. Commissioners stressed the importance of maintaining the character of the areas by introducing regulations regarding elevation, density and height restrictions. Community engagement is a key element as officials want residents to have a say in the future of their neighborhoods and ensure access to affordable housing.

“It’s really about Glenwood, Millville and St. Andrews and reflects what these communities want to see in the areas of their city where they are located,” said Panama City Commissioner Josh Street. “The middle casing is largely missing. By allowing some of these rezoning changes, we can create housing that a moderate-income family could afford, something that is drastically lacking in our community.”

These neighborhoods have been around for over a century and updated codes are needed to meet today’s housing needs. Victor Dover, founder and president of Dover, Kohl & Partners, emphasized continued unmet housing needs.

“It won’t be a surprise to anyone in Panama when I say this. There is still a great deal of unmet housing need, and housing production is not keeping pace with housing demand,” Dover said. “Particularly housing options that don’t cost as much per unit or as much per unit of land, which is why we keep hearing about affordability and the need for production.”

As this was only the first reading, no decisions were final. The next step is to gather more information from the community. A second reading is expected to take place in late fall or winter, and city commissioners aim to approve and implement the new codes by the end of the year.