The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved beach renourishment project in Panama City Beach. The project will replenish five miles of beach on the west end and three miles on the east end. Fresh sand will come from  offshore “borrow” areas near the east end of Panama City Beach. Work is schedule to take start in September and end in February. Federal funds will pay for 21 million of the 22 million project. The rest of the funds will come from State and our local bed tax.

Transportation is a major component and important factor of economic and commercial development. Transportation redevelopment projects like Highway 79 going from two lane to four lane from Panama City Beach to I-10, and State Road 390 from two lane to six lane from 23^rd Street to Highway 77 will make a major impact on future development. The links below will provide detailed information on the future road system of Panama City and the surrounding area.

Panama City Transortation Projects

Highway 390 Multi-lane Project
Gulf Coast Parkway Alternative Routes
U.S. 98 at 23rd Street Project Overview
S.R. 79 Corridor Project Overview
Panama City Beach CRA Project

ZONING MAP

Panama City Beach Zoning Map

ZONING MAP CLASSIFICATIONS

Click on applicable classification below for information.
1.1 Uses Permitted:

1.1.1 T-1 Districts: Apartments, hotels, motels, condominiums, churches, clubs, lodges, parking lots and single-family dwellings.

1.1.2 T-2 Districts: Apartments, hotels, motels, condominiums, churches, clubs, lounges, lodges, parking lots, business uses, professional uses, including retail sales and single-family dwellings.

1.1.3 T-3 Districts: Apartments, arcades and game rooms, hotels, motels, condominiums, churches, clubs, lounges, lodges, parking lots, business uses, professional uses, personal services, drive-in facilities, retail sales and services and single-family dwellings.

1.1.4 T-3A Districts: Amusements, arcades and game rooms, recreational and entertainment, clubs, lounges, lodges, parking lots, business uses, professional uses, personal services, drive-in facilities, retail sales and services, service stations, self-service laundries, pick-up laundry and cleaner stations, car wash facilities and single-family dwellings.

1.1.5 T-4 Districts: Apartments, hotels, motels, condominiums, churches, clubs, lodges, parking lots, business uses, professional uses, personal services, drive-in facilities, retail sales and services, service stations, self-service laundries, pick-up laundry and cleaner stations, car wash facilities, mini-warehouses and single-family dwellings.

1.1.6 TM Districts: Mobile homes, travel trailers (within a duly licensed travel trailer park), motor homes (within a duly licensed travel trailer park), hotels, motels, condominiums and transient tourist accommodations, apartment buildings, churches, clubs, lodges, parking lots and customary accessory uses, including the sale of mobile homes.

1.2 Uses prohibited: Industrial, manufacturing or processing uses, the sale or repair of automobiles and the sale of commodities not customarily construed as retail shoppers items, gasoline, lubricants, service stations and garages at any location south of a continuation of the centerline of Front Beach Road (Scenic Highway 98) through South Thomas Drive and Thomas Drive.

1.3 Accessory uses: Any apartment, hotel, motel, condominium or tourist accommodation facilities in any T-2 and T-3 Zone containing fifty (50) rental units or more shall be permitted to establish accessory uses within the principal building designed to serve primarily the guests of the facility as follows:

Drug and sundry shops, gift shops, confectionery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, newsstands, personal services and cocktail lounges, provided any such use by cocktail lounges is in conformance with Chapter 3, Alcoholic Beverages, of the Code of Panama City Beach, Florida.

1.4 Lot and building requirements: The principal building and accessory building shall be located and constructed in compliance with the following requirements in all “T” District:

EXISTING LAND USE MAP

Panama City Beach Existing Land Use Map

FUTURE LAND USE MAP

Panama City Beach Future Land Use Map

Commercial Real Estate investors in Panama City and Panama City Beach have some hurdles to jump in 2010. Commercial loans are coming due and values have decreased over the last 12 months. Investors are being forced to come up with additional equity to renew loans. However, I believe Panama City / Bay County will be the first real estate market to turn around. The new international airport, widening of Highway 79, widening of Highway 77, realignment of Highway  331 near Freeport, are a few projects that are attracting national companies to Panama City.  We all need to thank our State Representative, Jimmy Patronis, for going such a good job. Thank you Jimmy!

Bay County commissioners have approved construction of sidewalks on both sides of Thomas Drive from Venus Street to Dolphin Street. This project was rewarded to BCL Contractors for $795,000. Project is scheduled to be complete by July 5, 2010.

What are your thoughts on this project?

Grand Lagoon Bridge & Road Project

Bay County commissioners have rewarded $14,833.746. bridge and road expansion. The old Grand Lagoon Bridge on Thomas Drive near Captain Andersons Restaurant will be four lanes from North Lagoon to Bristal Street. The new bridge will provide 69′-4″ horizontal clearance. That’s 8 feet higher than the existing bridge. The new bridge will also be 100 feet higher, wide enough for 5 lanes wide of traffic, a bike lane, sidewalks and lights under the bridge.  Project has been rewarded to C. W. Roberts Co. Construction is scheduled to start first quarter in 2010 and complete by March 22, 2011.

What are your thoughts on this project?