Original plans to build a condominium in the vacant lot next to the Boardwalk Beach Resort may have shifted for now.
Because of tough economic times, Resort Hospitality Enterprises believes a Luxury Motorcoach Resort would be a savvy interim use of the land, but property owners believe these plans would have a negative impact on the area.
Amy Harris is the Marketing Director for Royal American, the company representing Resort Hospitality Enterprises. She explains, "what we're looking to do is a take a valuable piece of beach front property and repurpose it for interim use as a Gulf front motor coach resort. Very high end. And bring in a new demographic to the Panama City Beach area who frankly haven't been here yet."
Those who own property in the Boardwalk Beach Resort feel like these proposed plans would have a negative impact on the area.
John Bienkowski owns two condos in the Boardwalk Beach Resort. He says, "well basically we feel a trailer park will detract from the beauty of the property and it's certainly in defiance of the original plan."
Currently the lot is zoned as T-2, which is for professional and retail sales, which includes condominiums. Resort Hospitality Enterprises has submitted a rezoning request to change the zone to T-2 to T-M, which is for mobile homes and travel trailers.
"We're quite concerned about what could evolve, and a lot of concern that the other property owners have been saying in correspondence is that the value has taken a hit already and a trailer park next door can do nothing to but hurt both the owners as well as the city as it relates to future appraisals," says Bienkowski.
From the developers side, they say a "trailer park" is a major misconception.
"I think it's important to note that it's not a mobile home park. It's a luxury motorcoach resort. These people ardent living here. They're traveling here. They're spending money here they're frequenting our restaurants. They're going to our surf shops," says Harris.
The rezoning request will go before the Planning Department Monday, February 13th.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and WMBB. All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
