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Orange supervisors set public hearing on proposal to reduce Planning Commission from 11 members to five Date published: 2/25/2010
BY ROBIN KNEPPER
The Orange County Planning Commission will have six fewer voting members soon if the three supervisors who favor that change prevail. Supervisors Shannon Abbs, Zack Burkett and Grover Wilson voted at Tuesday's board meeting to schedule a public hearing on a proposal to amend the county's ordinance to reconstitute the Planning Commission with five members. Board Chairman Lee Frame, a former commission member, voted against the motion. Supervisor Teel Goodwin, who has said he likes the present configuration of the commission, abstained. Under the amended ordinance, each of the five supervisors would appoint a planning commissioner within 90 days after they take office, with the commissioner serving the same term as the appointing supervisor. The commission now has an appointed supervisor as a voting member. Under the proposed change, that supervisor would serve only as a non-voting liaison. Burkett raised the issue of a reformed commission at the supervisors' retreat in January 2009. Fellow supervisors agreed to look at ways to do that, but no consensus had been reached by the board's retreat this year. Now starting year three of his four-year term, Burkett has been unable to make an appointment to the commission, which is chaired by his 2007 opponent, Will Likins. District 4 Supervisor Grover Wilson, a property-rights and business advocate, was quick to agree with Burkett about the makeup of the commission. Both commission members from his district were appointed by former Supervisor Teri Pace, a supporter of limited growth. She was defeated by Wilson in November's election. Both Frame and Goodwin declared they were happy with their commissioners and didn't want change. Frame said a larger commission provides a greater range of viewpoints and helps in dividing work among the members. The swing vote came down to Abbs, who has been the board's appointed member of the commission and has witnessed its functioning first hand. Abbs said if five members aren't enough to get work done, the Planning Commission could appoint advisory committees. She then reported on the work of the commission and said she would transmit any input from the supervisors to the commission. They had none. The commission has not completed its work on revision of the county's zoning ordinance. However, the supervisors have made it clear that they will not act on The public hearing on the ordinance to reconstitute the Planning Commission will be March 23. If the change approved, it is expected to take effect April 1. The terms of commissioners Terry Apperson, Dave Kovarick, Elliott Fox Jr., Walter Smith and Corey Redifer expire April 30. Robin Knepper: 540/972-5701
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