PANAMA CITY BEACH — To steer away from a “carnival-type atmosphere,” the Panama City Beach Council will consider an ordinance to prevent permanent businesses from operating out of temporary structures.
Following the lead of the Bay County Commission, which recently adopted similar regulations, the council will conduct a second reading and public hearing at a meeting Thursday on an ordinance that would require all permanent businesses to have a building with a supporting structural foundation.
“If someone had a food truck or food trailer and they wanted to just tie it down, it would keep that from happening,” said Mel Leonard, director of the city’s building and planning department. “They can’t just tie themselves down to one location and operate like a permanent structure or permanent business.”
Leonard cited one business within the city limits, Smoke N Butts BBQ, which operates at a permanent site out of a temporary food truck, but could continue operations under the grandfather clause.
For other food trucks and other temporary businesses, city regulations allow set up in an area with a temporary use permit for no more than seven days within a 30-day period.
The ordinance cites efforts to improve curb appeal, including new land development regulations and changes to the sign code, as drivers for the proposed change. It also outlines a response from the private business community as leading to a “progression to a more permanent and attractive destination” and “away from the temporary and carnival/fair-like atmosphere.”
The ordinance does, however, provide conditions for actual amusement parks.
The owners of Miracle Strip at Pier Park addressed the council during the first reading of the ordinance with concerns that the new rules would affect plans for their new park location set to open this April.
In response to their concerns, the city added a provision to allow temporary structures in enclosed amusement parks larger than seven acres.
The council meets Thursday at 2 p.m. at Panama City Beach City Hall, located at 110 S. Arnold Road.
In other business, the council will also conduct a hearing to consider plat approval for four outparcels of the Walmart Supercenter on Back Beach Road, just east of Pier Park. A McDonalds is currently under construction at one of the sites, and the other three parcels are owned by the St. Joe Company.