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Bluff planning and zoning recommends Gary Hawes; council appoints him to commission
Summary
Planning & Zoning interviewed candidates Feb. 6 and 13 and recommended Gary Hawes to the town council. The council approved the appointment unanimously and discussed enforcement, short-term rental transfer questions and the commission's 2025 goals.
The Bluff Town Council on Feb. 18 approved Planning & Zoning's recommendation to appoint Gary Hawes to the commission.
Planning & Zoning interviewed three applicants for the commission, though one withdrew; Anne Brown and Gary Hawes were interviewed and, at its Feb. 13 meeting, Planning & Zoning recommended Hawes based on his experience in enforcement. The council voted 4–0 to accept the recommendation; council members thanked Anne Brown for applying and noted her continued volunteer work with town programs.
Planning & Zoning reported on several ongoing topics: enforcement of unpermitted buildings, how to manage short-term rental (STR) permits when a property transfers between family members ("generational transfer"), and goals for 2025 including more on-site visits when land use clearances are issued. Commission members asked for the Bluff street map to be available on the town website and requested another joint work session with the council to align on ordinance updates and enforcement strategy.
Council members said some generational-transfer questions likely intersect with zone changes or variances and suggested Planning & Zoning consider those procedures first. Staff noted that ordinance language may need revision to address transfers, enforcement timelines and fines. Planning & Zoning officers (chair and vice chair) were re-elected at the recent commission meeting.
The council agreed to a joint work session but said scheduling should wait until the absent council member (Bridal Hornsby) and the missing planning commissioners are available so the groups can participate fully.
