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Applicants interview for Mason County Planning Advisory Commission seats
Summary
Two applicants — Kirsty Rose and Kevin — interviewed before Mason County commissioners for open Planning Advisory Commission positions, discussing the commission's role, the comprehensive plan, rural development and community engagement. Commissioners said they will decide and staff will notify applicants.
Two applicants for the Mason County Planning Advisory Commission appeared before county commissioners on Jan. 14 to answer questions about the role and each applicant's experience.
Kirsty Rose, who identified herself as a member of Mason County Climate Justice and a volunteer with the youth mentorship program, told commissioners she has attended Planning Advisory Commission meetings for months and wants to "fill that disconnect" she said exists between commission members and community voices. "I really see it as a go between with the community and your office at large," Rose said, adding that the role should balance environmental protection and access to affordable housing.
Another applicant, who gave his first name as Kevin and said he lives in a rural area of the county, said he sees the planning commission focus as "long term direction and visioning" and "putting ideas into action," and emphasized protecting rural character while allowing carefully managed growth.
Commissioners asked both applicants about the comprehensive plan, the Growth Management Act and county development regulations. Rose said she understands the comprehensive plan sets a 20-year vision and is updated every 10 years, and she emphasized environmental considerations and affordable housing. Kevin said he would "want to get a bit more caught up" on details but understood the plan sets multi-decade policy for land use and growth.
Commissioners described the traits they want from new members: interest in the county, ability to distinguish between what the county can and cannot do under state law, working well with the Planning Advisory Commission and the Board of County Commissioners, and willingness to follow the law and regulations rather than impose personal preferences. Commissioner Trask (first reference: commissioner) said the commission's role is to "stay within the law and the due balance" and that members must take property rights and regulatory limits into account.
At the end of the interviews, commissioners said they will make a selection and staff will notify applicants.
The interviews were limited to the applicants' answers and the commissioners' questions; no formal action besides the announcement of a forthcoming decision occurred at the Jan. 14 meeting.
