Committee advances bill requiring majority of county planning boards to live in unincorporated areas

The Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee voted to give Senate Bill 324 a do-pass recommendation after the sponsor, Sen. Mark Johnson (District 17), presented the bill and an agreed-upon amendment.

As amended, SB 324 requires that a majority of members of a county planning board — the statute’s governing body for planning matters in counties that opt in to the mechanism — reside in the unincorporated areas that the board’s actions most affect. Johnson said the change responds to complaints that boards dominated by municipal residents do not adequately represent unincorporated-area residents whose property and land-use decisions are affected by county planning.

Johnson told the committee he and county officials, including representatives from the Association of Counties, negotiated the amendment. He described the measure as a compromise and said the Association of Counties "can go ... live with this." Questions from committee members focused on how many existing boards the change might affect and whether counties would still be able to find qualified members. Sen. Bryant and Sen. Davis expressed support for the approach, saying it would improve representation for residents outside municipal boundaries while leaving flexibility for counties with different needs.

There was no public opposition recorded in the hearing transcript. After brief discussion the committee voted "do pass as amended" by voice vote and the bill was advanced to the next step in the legislative process.

The sponsor said he would continue to work with counties on implementation details if specific local situations arise.

Votes at a glance

- SB 324 — Require majority of county planning-board members to live in unincorporated areas (as amended): Do pass as amended (committee voice vote).