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Planning and zoning seeks stable city contribution while searching for director and finishing comprehensive plan
Summary
The Planning and Zoning commission asked the city to keep its contribution level steady for fiscal 2026, reported a preliminary budget showing a projected net income above internal policy thresholds, and outlined an ongoing director search and a delayed comprehensive plan text due to staffing changes.
Terry Mannen, chair of the Planning and Zoning Budget Committee, presented the preliminary FY2026 budgets for Planning & Zoning and the Danville Architectural Heritage Board (DAHP). He asked the city to maintain contribution levels at $75,000 for Planning & Zoning and $25,000 for the DAHP, the same as FY2025.
Mannen reviewed the commission’s preliminary budget spreadsheet. He said FY2025 revenues were stronger than expected mainly because construction review fees were unusually high this year and that the FY2026 budget conservatively assumes a normal level of such fees. He reported projected FY2026 total revenue of about $194,280 and expenditures of roughly $230,667, leaving a forecasted net income of $50,802 for the commission. Mannen said the commission’s policy is not to ask for additional city or county funding if forecasted net income exceeds $40,000, and under that policy no increase is being requested now.
On staffing, Mannen said the initial job posting for a new planning director produced no applicants; the committee increased the starting salary and reposted and has received one response so far. He said two planning commissioners have volunteered to finish remaining chapters of the comprehensive plan text while the commission completes the future land use map (the “FLUM”), and he expects the commission to review the plan and forward it to the city and county later this year.
Mannen also presented DAHP’s FY2026 preliminary budget, which shows no change from FY2025. He reported that Joni House, DAHP preservation coordinator, has worked to standardize overlapping planning and DAHP guidelines following DAHP’s integration under Planning & Zoning. DAHP requested involvement early when the city plans purchases, sales, or renovations in the historic district and listed FY2026 objectives of revising signage design guidelines and completing DAHP‑Planning integration.
Why it matters: The commission’s budget outlook recommends no increase in local contributions while emphasizing the need to fill the director role and finalize the comprehensive plan update to guide future land‑use decisions.
Mannen invited follow up and said the committee will coordinate with the city and county on salary offers for the new director to avoid internal inequities.
