Staff pauses October Planning Commission work session; solar ordinance and venue planning set for November

Town of Chino Valley planning staff told the Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 3 that there will be no Planning Commission work session in October as staff focus on drafting the town's solar ordinance and other pending items.

At the meeting staff said, "we have no items in the queue for our October meeting... we're busy working on the solar ordinance, we are not proposing a work session for the Planning Commission in October." Commissioners and staff discussed scheduling a public meeting or study session on the solar ordinance in November. Staff cautioned that a public meeting would draw many attendees and that the commission would need a venue that permits recording and public address.

Commissioners and staff noted technical requirements for the meeting space: the town streams and records meetings and needs a room with microphones, speakers and recording capability. One staff member said, "We can't just go anywhere because we have to record it. Can't always do the Facebook live every place, which is what we try to do. But we are if we can't do that, we still have to be able to record it, and people have to be able to hear." The commission discussed seeking a larger council chamber in a neighboring town or another venue with at least 50 seats to accommodate public turnout.

No formal action was taken; staff will continue drafting the solar ordinance and identify an appropriate venue for the anticipated November public hearing or workshop. The commission will be notified of scheduling and venue decisions.