Planning Commission adopts Housing and Design Initiative technical advisory committee bylaws, 6-0-1
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Summary
The Planning Commission voted to adopt bylaws for the Housing and Design Initiative technical advisory committee (TAC); Commissioner Morgan Driggs moved the motion, Commissioner Bruce Weber seconded it, and the roll call was 6 ayes, 1 abstention (Commissioner Pat Greenwell recused from the vote because he is a TAC member).
The Springfield Planning Commission voted to adopt bylaws for the Housing and Design Initiative technical advisory committee, the advisory body charged with guiding the city’s work on code and design changes to make housing additions easier across the city.
Sandy Belson, comprehensive planning manager, presented the bylaws and explained the Committee for Citizen Involvement’s role in approving them. “Before you tonight is a decision to either adopt or not adopt the bylaws of the Housing and Design Initiative technical advisory committee,” Belson said, noting the TAC had held two meetings and had agreed to the draft bylaws.
Commissioner Morgan Driggs moved to adopt the technical advisory committee bylaws; Commissioner Bruce Weber seconded. During brief discussion Vice Chair Steve Schmunk said he wanted to ensure the bylaws did not “put a wet blanket on anybody’s” ideas and asked whether the language might discourage unconventional suggestions. Belson and other commissioners said they did not believe changes were required and that the TAC members had reviewed the language.
Sandy Belson then called the roll. Chair Andrew Buck, Vice Chair Steve Schmunk, Commissioner Callie Ackland, Commissioner Morgan Driggs, Commissioner Seth Thompson and Commissioner Bruce Weber voted “aye.” Commissioner Pat Greenwell abstained because he is a member of the technical advisory committee. The motion passed 6‑0 with one abstention.
Belson said if commissioners wanted changes to the bylaws the commission could identify edits and staff would return with revisions. The adopted bylaws allow staff and the TAC to proceed with the Housing and Design Initiative work, including ongoing outreach and future code‑update work.
The commission also appointed Commissioner Steve Schmunk to serve on an upcoming developer evaluation committee for a South 52nd request for proposals, with Commissioner Pat Greenwell volunteering as an alternate; that appointment was made by volunteer consensus and no formal roll call vote was recorded.