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Putnam County planning commissioners seek workshop to address new state timelines, DRC role and plat procedures
Summary
Commission members requested a workshop to review recent state statutory changes that impose mandatory timelines on plats and permit review. Staff said the Development Review Committee (DRC) is now doing prereview of PUDs, and commissioners asked staff and the county attorney to clarify process changes and potential code amendments.
Putnam County Planning Commission members asked staff to schedule a workshop to consider text amendments and procedural changes after a lengthy discussion about how recent state laws affect subdivision and plat review timelines.
Commission member Mr. Williams opened the topic by asking why the Development Review Committee (DRC) often reviews PUDs and major subdivisions after the commission rather than before it. ‘‘When I was reading through… I’m kind of wondering why DRC is after we basically recommend approval of PUDs and major subdivisions?’’ he said.
Zach (planning staff) explained that the DRC has been intervening earlier in the process to prereview PUD applications and provide comments before the public hearing and that recent state legislation effective July has changed how plats and preliminary approvals are processed. He told the commission the county attorney’s guidance is to limit board review of plats when developers will maintain infrastructure; if the county will receive roads or utilities, the county may still require board review.
Mr. Williams and other commission members said they want clearer processes that preserve public involvement while complying with state timelines. ‘‘Part of my concern was I want public involvement. I wanted to go through the process correctly… I would like to ask for a workshop,’’ Williams said, and later asked staff to prepare proposed text amendments to the Land Development Code to clarify timelines and review steps.
Staff described how prior recent cases (for example, the Doctor Horton PUD) had required multiple DRC reviews and that new statutes place firm timelines on when local governments must act on applications or face statutory consequences. Planning staff and commissioners discussed using a public workshop or initiating a text amendment to the Land Development Code; the commission agreed to schedule a workshop to study the issues and possibly bring a proposed text amendment before it in a later meeting.
The commission asked staff to compare notes with the county attorney and prepare materials so commissioners can better understand where code language and practice must change to remain compliant.
