Zoning board asks mayor to recognize longtime member after residency rule triggers removal; staff, education changes noted

The Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Columbia voted to ask the mayor to present a recognition to a longtime member, identified only as George, after staff determined he no longer met the ordinance requirement that board members be residents of the city.

Planning staff told the board the zoning ordinance specifies that members must be physical residents of the City of Columbia. The chair said George had moved to Hampshire and therefore no longer met that residency requirement; staff noted a similar situation previously resulted in a planning commission member stepping down.

The board voted to request that the mayor arrange some form of recognition — for example, a plaque — to honor George’s service. The motion passed on a roll call that recorded aye votes from Mr. Abels, Mr. Campbell, Miss Martin and Mr. Dugger.

During other business the board discussed internal education and staffing. Planning staff said the council recently approved an additional principal planner position and that a new staff member would start on Monday; the board was told Robert was promoted to a principal planner role and would help with internal education sessions. The chair asked staff to follow through on an "intense discussion" of short-term rentals at a future educational session.

At the start of the meeting the board approved the minutes from its previous meeting by roll call vote. The meeting concluded after members voted to adjourn.

No financial awards or contractual actions were taken; the recognition request is a non-binding request to the mayor and does not itself reinstate any membership or change the ordinance.