PCB Council Rejects Development Plan

By Valerie Lovett, The News Herald, Panama City, Fla.

Jan. 12–PANAMA CITY BEACH — “No means no,” Panama City Beach City Councilman Jeff Ferguson told a group of developers hoping to build in the airspace above two beach accesses and alleyways. The council voted 4-1, with Councilman Bobby Bolton the lone “yes” vote, Thursday against further pursuing Gulf Waves Partners’ plans to erect a 22-story, 250-unit condominium that would include about 40 units built above the public accesses. The plan called for leasing the airspace above beach accesses 28 and 29 and above the Sunset and Sandpiper lane alleyways over 20 years for $15,000 per year, consultant Bert Howell told the council. The city would benefit from some $300,000 gained in the lease, as well as millions in tax dollars funneled into the city’s community redevelopment area, public parking spaces near the beach accesses and aesthetic improvements to the neighborhood, Howell said. The plan had the support of two-thirds of property owners in the area, he said. Several people attested to that. They said their property taxes have dramatically escalated in recent years, they feel under siege by crime and indigent people living in the neighborhood, and the beach accesses and public parking would be a benefit. That plan has been shot down on four occasions by beach voters, but a referendum would not have been required to build in the airspace over the accesses. “Our analysis is that (the referendums) were turned down by voters who do not live in close proximity to the neighborhood, and that people in the neighborhood do support this proposed ordinance,” Howell said. Not so, said several people speaking against the development, many of whom are longtime residents of Beach Boulevard and surrounding streets. They questioned the motives of those nearby property owners who support the project, specifically citing the likelihood that those in favor want to sell their properties and are having difficulty doing so in a depleted market. Ferguson said while he supports development, he is not in favor of the project as presented. “We need to preserve our neighborhoods, and that is one of the oldest,” Ferguson said. “It’s an area we need to give more of a focus to as a city.” He encouraged people living there to band together to make improvements to the area. “It’s been up four times for a referendum and the people have denied it. They shot it down. No means no,” Ferguson said.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The News Herald, Panama City, Fla.

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