Planning Commission Change Regarding Citizen Commissioners
Jun 21, 2010 7:13 - 2 Comments
In hopes of improving the exchange of information between the >Planning Commission and other boards and commissions, the Planning Commission has changed its procedure for testimony.
Now official testimony from City bodies, including boards and commissions, will occur directly after staff report presentations near the beginning of proceedings. In a letter from David Hill, the chair of the Planning Commission to fellow commissioners, he explains:
The rationale is that when City bodies are presenting an officially adopted position (e.g. the recommendations of a board or commission,) this content is a supplement to official City presentation and as such, it should occur in that context in our meetings. Therefore, it makes sense to us for staff to present their general report on a matter and then hear other detailed official City recommendations before moving on to applicant and general public testimony.
The Planning Commission notes that testimony will be easier to give since it will be at a predictable time during the meetings and therefore they hope to have other boards and commissions provide more input. The letter explains:
We note with regret that our boards and commissions are compartmentalized too frequently, and we miss opportunities to obtain citizen commissioner expertise in matters where our purviews overlap.
This testimonial order if for officially adopted content only, commissioners giving individual testimony must do so during the general public portion of the meeting.
Any change which brings our volunteers together to serve the City better are most welcome. Our citizen commissioners have a wealth of expertise to share.
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It’s really sad to see the degree of bullying directed toward the members who serve on the Planning Commission. Many of he people who demand we be more obsequious to the Mayor are the same ones who treat the Planning Commissioners with contempt and hostility.
I think it’s good that Chairman Hill wants more facilitate the testimony of other city commission members. I would like to call his attention to the need to do the same for members of the public.I recently addressed the Planning and Zoning Commission and was distressed by the level of seeming disrespect shown by one commissioner to citizens who waited almost three hours to speak on behalf of Victory Housing. In a “general comment,” Commissioner Dion Trahan, who came on board in March, admonished citizens that “we get it” and that we should only address the technical compliance of site plans up for approval, and that the board really didn’t need to hear “personal stories.” I know that his comment upset at least one speaker, and I spoke after his comment and attempted to clarify the public’s role in the process. It takes courage to appear before such a board, and those who do should be applauded and those who don’t out of fear should be encouraged. Citizens have a valuable role to play in letting the board know whether we believe the project is a good fit and meets the other areas of approval. When reviewing projects, the job of the Planning and Zoning Commission, according to Rockville law, is as follows:”A site plan application, may be approved only if the applicable Approving Authority finds that the application will not: (a) Adversely affect the health or safety of persons residing or working in the neighborhood of the proposed development; (b) Be detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to property or improvements in the neighborhood; (c) Overburden existing and programmed public facilities as set forth in Article 20 of this Chapter and as provided in the adopted Adequate Public Facilities Standards; (d) Adversely affect the natural resources or environment of the City or surrounding areas; (e) Be in conflict with the Plan; (f) Constitute a violation of any provision of this Chapter or other applicable law. (g) Be incompatible with the surrounding uses or properties. Interested citizens should speak to each and every element as appropriate. At a future meeting, I would hope that Chair Hill would take the time to correct the misimpression that citizen input must be related to the “technical” aspects of site plan compliance, and that all are truly welcome and invited to speak. Commissioner Trahan’s comments can be viewed at about 2 hrs. and 45 minutes into this broadcast. http://rockvillemd.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=1076