Planning Commission...Why do we need it?

So, to another item that will be on the agenda Tuesday. In effect this ordinance is asking "Why do we need a planning commission?"

The ordinance up for a vote is one making all changes to the subdivision regulations by the planning commission subject to approval by the BOMA. In essence, this would take all of the teeth out of the powers of the commission thus begging the question...Do we need a planning commission?


I could understand the need to replace the commission if they were allowing construction and development that was of a lower quality than the city and elected officials wanted. In that case the board would be able to approve regulations that are more strict than the planning commission thus making the standards higher. That is in fact not the case.

This is an attempt for the BOMA to "water down" the type of information that comes before the planning commission. It was all sparked by the planning commission approving a subdivision regulation that required a section in the plans (for the development) that showed the location of trees on the property. There is not an issue of cost and there is not an issue of time. This is an issue of developers not wanting to say out loud that they will be disregarding the existing landscape, and bringing in the bulldozers.

Let's look for a second at what the planning commission goes through on a regular basis, and then see if we want to add that workload to the current BOMA.

* Review of all new development that comes into the city. This includes sewer, drainage, landscaping, sidewalks and walking trails, building materials, etc
* Basic planning and recommendations on zoning changes.
* Signage on buildings.
* Providing city services to the effected site.
* Blending of commercial development into residential development.
* etc.

Now, does the BOMA really have time to add another 5 hours of meeting time to their schedule not to mention prep time and education? And if they did, do we really want to take this job out of hands with a certain level of expertise and add it to a group with a very diverse background?

Leave the planning commission alone. If their regulations are not strict enough, you can always strengthen them. Not to mention, the board would be reduced to 8.