IMPORTANT Joint Meeting of P&Z & Commission, Jan 14, 6:00 p.m.

There's a critical joint meeting of the Planning & Zoning Board and the City Commission at City Hall Thursday, January 14, at 6:00 p.m.  Here is the background:

Right now site plans for commercial developments in the ROR and C-1 districts are being heard and decided upon by just the P&Z Board and not by the City Commission. Prior to July 26, 2007, this was not the case -- the Commission decided on such final approvals after the P&Z Board analyzed and provided a recommendation to the Commission. 


On July 26, 2007, in a well-intentioned action, the Commission at the time, amended Sec. 74 in or order to streamline the site plan review process. However, the amendment appears to have gone too far and major commercial developments ARE NOT BEING HEARD by the elected Commissioners. 


The purpose of the joint meeting is to determine if Article XIII Development Review Procedures Section 74 should be amended now to return the decision for final site plans (other than plans for single and two family dwellings) to the elected City Commissioners following the P&Z Board recommendations.


It is important that this change back to the way it used to be be made immediately. 


It has nothing to do with the make-up of the P&Z Board. They are upstanding, concerned, dedicated citizens who spend an inordinate amount of time doing a job few want to take on. And they're good at it. However, this is a situation where the intent to streamline your city government puts our future in jeopardy. 


The P&Z Board should function as they always have, in a fact-finding/advisory capacity, with recommendations to the Commission. Why? Because the future of our city is fragile at best, and recent events certainly prove that to be true. It is critical that the future of our city be the purview of elected officials. It is they who should have the ultimate authority over development decisions. 


Your support of this is critical. Send an email now with your views to amclerk@city@cityofannamaria.com. At the top of the email, in all caps, put PLEASE DISTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY TO ALL COMMISSIONERS, P&Z MEMBERS, AND THE MAYOR. Tell them you want the future of our city decided by elected, not appointed, officials, and that Procedures Section 74 should be amended now to return the decision for final site plans to the elected City Commissioners following the P&Z Board recommendations.  


Note: No voting can be done at this meeting. The issue must go before a regular commission meeting and the necessary public hearings to change the ordinance. But, it is important that people who care attend the meeting. You can bet those few in favor of keeping it the way it is now will be there in full force. It is important to them to keep the control out of the hands of the people you elected to protect our community.