PANAMA CITY BEACH — The Panama City Beach Planning Board on Thursday made a decision that could pave the way for a new 250-condominium building on the north side of Front Beach Road.
The board denied an appeal to a development order filed by residents trying to halt construction of the third planned building in the Calypso Tower project. Some of the residents who live in Calypso Tower I and Calypso Tower II were concerned Calypso III would generate traffic.
The residents opposed to the third tower asked the Planning Board to consider an appeal of intent to issue the Land Development Order for the new 250-unit tower at 15928 Front Beach Road, on the north side of the busy road. The community’s other two buildings are Gulf-side.
Residents said they would appeal the Planning Board’s decision to the City Council.
Some current Calypso residents said they were concerned the additional building would bring more people to the beach, overcrowding an already busy area. They also expressed concerns about inadequate parking and that the building would exacerbate stormwater runoff problems.
Tower II resident Dave Evras said the long-term condo investors like those living in Calypso are good for the local economy.
“They are the ones who are putting the money into this city. … By overpopulating the beaches, that will affect the investments in the long run.”
He said the additional condo building would overpopulate the location, bringing thousands of people to a 500-foot beach area by the condo buildings.
“We really feel we need a new traffic study, retention water study, beach population study,” he said.
City Planning Director and City Attorney Doug Sale said adding to the beach population should not be a factor in consideration of the appeal.
May Myer, who also lives in Calypso, expressed concerns about negative environmental impacts from a third tower.
“Another building will be displacing more water,” she said. “The runoff on the beach — already it’s a huge, brown area in the water.”
Myer shares Evras’ fear of a new tower overpopulating the area.
“People are going to stop coming if we are not prepared for all those people to come,” Myer said. “We want to continue to be number one for people to come here for vacation. I think the city needs to be prepared for water, sewer, parking.”
A third tower was in the original plans for the project; the approval expired in the down economy, but not before Calypso Tower III’s foundation was begun.
On June 27, 2013, the City Council adopted an ordinance creating a process for amending, extending or renewing development orders that meet certain criteria.
City staff reviewing Calypso’s proposal disagreed with the merits of the 10 objections raised by residents. For example, residents argued parking is within five to seven spaces of capacity and not enough handicapped parking is available for general public use.
However, staff reported 992 spaces are required under city code; 997 are being provided.
Another objection raised by the residents was that the elevated crossover and at-grade crossover on Front Beach Road would become overcrowded if the third tower were built. Staff replied that building and life safety codes still will have to be maintained.