City council adopted city plan; regional approval and future land use map still pending

The city plan was adopted by city council, but regional approval is still pending, Planning Commission members heard. Mike, a planning staff member, told commissioners: “the city plan was adopted by city council on Wednesday, so that step is complete. The regional approval is, still pending.”

Why it matters: the Regional Planning Commission intends to meet with municipal councils and planning commissions to explain how a new future land use map is being drafted and what input municipalities can provide. That map is separate from the locally adopted city plan but could affect future development mapping and coordination across jurisdictions.

At the meeting, Mike said the RPC is trying to schedule a joint session so the RPC can explain “what is it? Kind of the basics. What is it? Why is it important?” and to give municipalities a chance to comment. He said municipalities often handle this with a joint meeting of city council and planning commission, and that the RPC ‘‘wants to meet with city council and planning commission to discuss the future land use map.’’

Commissioners discussed how to handle attendance and open‑meeting requirements if several commissioners attend a council session. Mike clarified that if fewer than a quorum of planning commissioners attend a council meeting and do not deliberate together, ‘‘it wouldn't have any bearings’’ on planning commission action, but the session should be warned if four or more commissioners will be present to avoid open‑meeting-law problems.

Mike told the commission the RPC meeting should likely take place in early August and that he was working with city council to target a date; commissioners noted Aug. 13 as a possible date to hear the RPC presentation. He also said the RPC’s outreach is happening for multiple municipalities and ‘‘this happens to coincide’’ with the local plan adoption, meaning the RPC’s future land use map work is a separate, broader process.

Next steps: staff will share the RPC meeting date when confirmed and will arrange a debrief for commissioners who cannot attend, so the commission can provide additional input if desired.

(Ending) The commission agreed to track the RPC meeting and consider whether to host the RPC presentation during a council meeting or to schedule a separate planning commission item when the RPC date is set.