City Manager Stanton asking panel not to speak in acronyms.Well, for all those who did not attend today's meeting at the Compass Building on the Comp Plan, you did not miss a thing. After the first 1.5 hours, absolutely NOTHING was accomplished. The Mayor, Jeff Clemens, derailed Commissioner Jennings from getting any of her points discussed, would not move forward on her Power Point presentation and even at one point suggested that he stop the meeting.
Rachael Bach informed the panel, bringing up her LaRue letter, that if "significant" changes are made to the Plan then the DCA will not look favorably on us in submitting new amendments. She is then asked what the word "significant" means. Significant, as it turns out, is up to the DCA. She always tells most of the story, but often times a lot of the information is not revealed. In this particular case, she failed to mention that the DCA would prefer that we get it right and take the time--that the May 14th deadline is artificial and not a concern.
There seemed to be a rush (isn't there always?) to send the Amendments to the DCA by John Paxman, Jeff Clemens and Rachael Bach with the idea of "making the changes later." As Laurence McNamara pointed out, if they did that, then there very well possibly could be grounds for a lawsuit by the owners of Sunset.
Future Land Use Map amendments must be adopted by Ordinance. If the City selects to NOT adopt the amendment, then it must give its reason for the decision and withdraw the amendment and send a letter to the DCA notifying them of the final action regarding the amendment. Let's get Sunset, Jewell and the Beach zoned correctly BEFORE submittal to DCA.
I left the meeting before it adjourned but I heard it now goes back to ANOTHER workshop.
Oy vey.
