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Stafford planners reined in with vote
Stafford supervisors changing planning proceduresDate published: 12/17/2008 BY JONAS BEALS Tension between the Stafford County Board of Supervisors and its appointed Planning Commission was on display last night, and there wasn't a planning commissioner in the room.
Supervisors came out of a closed session and immediately passed a resolution directing the Planning Commission to bring any proposed zoning ordinance changes to the Board of Supervisors first before staff works on the issue, and before there can be a public hearing on the matter. Essentially, if the Planning Commission has an idea, it must first be vetted by the supervisors before any money can be spent on advertising or staff work.
The resolution, which passed 5-2 (Bob Woodson and George Schwartz dissenting), was an attempt by supervisors to gain an increased level of control over the Planning Commission.
"They need to ask us first before they spend county money on things that go nowhere," Paul Milde said. "This forces the Planning Commission to work more closely with the board. We don't even know these changes are coming when they get here."
Other board members did not feel that the idea was quite so constructive.
"It will completely emasculate the Planning Commission," Chairman George Schwartz said. "I don't want the responsibility of micromanaging the Planning Commission."
Milde has roundly criticized some of the new zoning changes, and feels that the impetus for them should rest with the county's legislative body rather than the Planning Commission. Without more oversight, he suggested, the commission may continue to waste county resources. Milde stated that he believes the current commission has passed more zoning amendments than have been passed in the previous 20 years combined.
"That would be negative?" Schwartz responded.
Woodson questioned the timing and the motivation behind the resolution. "This is a deliberate attempt to take power from the Planning Commission. This decision-making is really on the fly. It's arbitrary." In his estimation, the decision was made to favor developers.
In other business, Milde moved to request the General Assembly to consider enabling legislation to allow Stafford to add an at-large chairman to the Board of Supervisors. His motion followed a petition drive at county polls on Election Day. A heated discussion preceded the vote, with some supervisors expressing concern about how the signatures were obtained. The motion was defeated, 3-4 with Cord Sterling, Milde and Mark Dudenhefer in favor.
Supervisors also voted 5-2 to close county government offices on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20. Jonas Beals: 540/368-5036
At least there will be some sort of oversight
(posted by
ReadingOne
, Dec. 17, 2008 7:17 am)
on a commission with ulterior motives and absolutely no understanding of basic economic trickle down effects. As mighty as they propose to be, swinging their sabers to defeat the unholy developer and evil growth, they ignore those who try to help them understand the repercussions of their actions. Especially future fiscal repercussions. There will be those who defend this group but their motives need to be examined also. Now we need board members who have the background and knowledge to lead the county
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