Westminster Planning Commission backs ‘call for review’ change to appeals procedure

The Westminster Planning Commission voted 5-0 on Oct. 1 to recommend that the City Council repeal and re‑adopt Chapter 17.64 of the Westminster Municipal Code and add a new “call for review” option for appeals.

Ken Fichtelman, principal planner, told the commission staff drafted the change to remove the appearance of bias that can be created when a commissioner or council member must provide a reason for an appeal. “This allows a Planning Commissioner or Council member to initiate a review without providing a reason,” Fichtelman said, adding that the change would reduce the likelihood that an elected official must recuse themselves before hearing evidence.

Staff described the amendment as a repeal and re‑adoption of the chapter, with the substantive new provision located at the start of the revised section and other edits described as clerical or cleanup. Staff recommended the commission adopt a resolution recommending approval to the City Council. No members of the public spoke on the item.

A motion recommending approval was moved and seconded and carried unanimously on roll call. Commissioners Wolbert, Winn, Anderson, Tran and Chair Hamadi voted yes on the recommendation to forward the zoning-text amendment to the City Council.

The commission’s recommendation does not itself change the code; the action forwards the draft ordinance and resolution to the City Council for final consideration. Staff told the commission the change is not a project under CEQA and that staff will include exhibit language in the ordinance. The record contains multiple renderings of the case number in staff remarks; staff identified the item in presentation slides as 2025-0227.