2001.01.24 PC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Planning Commission Meeting January 24, 2001- page 2 Malaski agreed and said that if they stayed with the alternates, they would need to develop a better system. Valaski also said that having a quorum was never an issue, but Peltier said it could become an issue if and when the Planning Commission met more often. Rosenquist said he felt that it would be hard to keep alternates up to speed on issues that they would be voting on. Malaski made motion, Peltier seconded, to recommend eliminating the appointment of alternate Planning Commission members. All AYES. Motion carried. Ordinance Amendment to Eliminate the Board of Appeals and Adjustments The Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the elimination of the Board of Appeals and Adjustments and delegating to the Planning Commission certain responsibilities to review variances and hear certain appeals. This would include procedural changes to how the City reviews variances. The Community Development Director reviewed the staff report and the proposed ordinance with the Planning Commission. He discussed the three possible options available to them, as well as the option to leave the Board in place as is. One option would be to make the Planning Commission a recommending body to the City Council, which is how the current Board of Appeals and Adjustments is structured. The second option would be to give the Planning Commission authority to approve or deny variances and review appeals, subject to appeal to the City Council. The third option would be to give the Planning Commission the final authority, subject to judicial review. The Community Development Director discussed the pros and cons of each of these options with the Planning Commission. Schumann opened the public hearing, but there were no comments. Schumann said there was currently no board in place; all three positions were vacant. The Commission agreed with the recommendation of staff to allow the Planning Commission to hear and act on variances and appeals, subject to appeal to the City Council. They also agreed the quorum should be set at four members, instead of three, but questioned whether a separate public hearing would have to be held to consider the number constituting a quorum. Rooney made motion, Peltier seconded, to recommend the approval of the draft ordinance amendment eliminating the Board of Appeals and Adjustments, and to also change the quorum from three to four. Schumann made motion, Peltier seconded, to amend motion to subject it to review by the City Attorney. Vote on amendment: AYES: Kleissler, Malaski, Peltier, Rooney, Rosenquist NAY: Schumann Motion carried.