The Bay County Board of County Commissioners approved a small-scale comprehensive plan amendment and a zoning change at 2716 Canal Avenue, converting roughly a half-acre from residential to neighborhood commercial (C-1), after planning staff and the planning commission recommended approval.

Wayne Porter of Planning and Zoning summarized that the Bay County Planning Commission held a public hearing and voted the proposed land-use and zoning change consistent with the comprehensive plan; staff recommended the board adopt the ordinances. Porter said the property, located on Canal Avenue in the unincorporated Panama City area, sits adjacent to existing commercial uses and that the applicant also owns nearby properties.

During discussion commissioners and staff clarified that staff recommended C-1 (neighborhood commercial) rather than C-3 (general commercial) and that a lay-down yard or heavy storage use would not be allowed under C-1; such uses would need C-3 and separate access and development approval. Applicant representative Chris Klubbs said the property currently has visual access via a northern easement but that determining legal ownership of that easement proved difficult during development-order preparation; Klubbs said he believed the easement owner may be deceased and that the applicant would pursue access or an alternative.

Staff noted existing nonconforming commercial uses in the area and said any future lay-down or storage use would require a development order demonstrating legal access; the lay-down yard would have to be isolated to a C-3 parcel. The board voted to approve the amendments and rezoning by roll call.