Panama City Seeks Community Input on Marina Redevelopment Plans

Panama City is embarking on a significant redevelopment of its downtown marina, and Mayor Allan Branch is calling on the community to actively participate in the planning process.

 

In a recent announcement,  Mayor  Allan Branch emphasized the importance of transparency and community engagement in refining the draft marina plans. He stated, "We now have draft plans for the next phase of marina improvements. These are not bid documents yet; we're still fine-tuning them to ensure they're clear, detailed, and buildable."

 

To achieve this, the city is seeking feedback from industry professionals, including contractors, engineers, tradespeople, and marine experts, to identify potential issues early. The objectives are to create clearer plans, enhance technical details, encourage more competitive bids, and minimize costly surprises during implementation.

 

Mayor Branch underscored the significance of this initiative, noting, "This is about getting it right for our community and our taxpayers." Qualified individuals interested in reviewing or providing feedback on the draft plans are encouraged to contact City Manager Jonathan Hayes at [email protected], with Mayor Branch copied at [email protected]. Submissions should include the individual's name, qualifications, and the specific parts of the plans to which their feedback pertains.

 

In addition to professional input, the city is organizing public charrettes from January 21st through January 22nd, facilitated by urban planning firm Dover Kohl. These sessions aim to gather community perspectives on various aspects of the marina redevelopment, such as:

 

• What buildings should be constructed on the marina uplands?

 

• If so, how large should they be?

 

• What purposes should they serve?

 

• Where should parking be located?

 

• How much green space is desired?

 

• How can access, functionality, and long-term sustainability be balanced?

 

Mayor Branch highlighted the value of these sessions, stating, "This process only works if the public is involved, and I hope you will join us." Detailed schedules for each charrette meeting will be shared as they are finalized.

 

For those interested in exploring how other communities have integrated various elements into their marina developments, the city has commissioned a study examining marinas across Florida. This study provides insights into the incorporation of parking, buildings, parks, green spaces, splash pads, event areas, and waterfront access. Mayor Branch shared, "I'm sharing this purely for informational purposes, not to draw anyone toward a specific outcome or design."

 

Downtown Marina Charrettes Community Presentation & Open House meetings will be at City Hall 501 Harrison Avenue, Panama City, FL.

 

Residents are encouraged to review the study and participate in the upcoming charrettes to help shape the future of Panama City's downtown marina and job growth in Bay County.

 

For other job resources:

Panama City Spotlight Bay County Jobs & Employment Guide

 

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