PANAMA CITY — Planning board members Monday approved a development plan that would put more condo units at a beachfront motel, but they tabled a request some members feared might allow developers to install a low-income housing project in the heart of the struggling area.
With some hesitation about the lack of specificity in the proposed agreement, the Panama City Planning Commission unanimously agreed to recommend to the City Commission a development plan for the Buccaneer Beach Motel that allow developers to add 117 units at the motel’s current location on
Jason Oakes, who co-owns the site, said other developers were watching the way the planning board handled the request.
“This tells people that you guys are open for business and want to redevelop
But the board stopped short of allowing a plan to put 80 units of affordable housing downtown at the site of the former
John Lewis, who represents Royal American/Marie Hotel One, told the board the plan was to take a building that has been vacant for years and fill it with people who would augment the city’s tax base and patronize downtown businesses. He explained the plan was to put 80 units of low-income senior housing on the site; he said it was not uncommon for
“All we’re asking is to take a piece of property that has been closed down for over 30 years, that is not providing any tax base in the community, and we’re going to build [a] $10 million, brand new facility in the middle of your community, and we’re going to fill that with 100-plus retirees … who are already active citizens and will continue to be active citizens in our community, and we’re going to put that in the middle of this market,” Lewis said.
Community Redevelopment Agency Director William Whitson urged the planning board to take time for further study on the
“The Buccaneer applicant came forward and talked with me about what their plans were,” Whitson said. “This gentleman never darkened my door, and so I found that very interesting.”
Board member Waylon Graham said Lewis’ description of low-income housing didn’t jibe with his experience as a criminal defense attorney. Graham expressed concern that a project being pitched as a low-income senior housing could become another blighted property renting to anyone, not strictly retirees.
“Most of these affordable housing projects are hotbeds of criminality,” Graham said.
Lewis said he doubts the retirees for which developers hope to provide housing are going to have criminal intentions.
“Believe me, we’re not going to build this project in our backyard unless we’re proud of it,” Lewis said.
Board member Mary Sittman, who owns a property on the same block and would have abstained from voting on the Marie issue, said there was a discrepancy between Lewis’ explanation and the application.
“I understand that Mr. Graham could be in fact concerned, and other people could be concerned, that it was low-income, even thought that’s not what you intend — that’s not what this says,” Sittman said.
More than a half-dozen business and property owners near the site at
They pressed for details about how 80 residential units would affect parking availability and questioned the developer’s claims that project would give downtown “a start.” One man questioned how much disposable income residents would have to spend downtown if they required a government subsidy to afford housing.
When they had finished, Sean McNeil, who is identified in public records as an owner of both properties, requested the board table the request until next month.