Committee recommends reappointment of multiple zoning and development board members

The Metropolitan Economic Development Committee on Jan. 30 recommended that the City-County Council reappoint a slate of members to the Metropolitan Development Commission and the Metropolitan Zoning Appeals Board, with unanimous 15-0 roll-call recommendations on each proposal.

Brandon Herget appeared in person when the committee considered proposal number 3, which would reappoint him to the Metropolitan Development Commission. "It's been a tremendous opportunity to serve on the MDC over the last year," Herget said, adding he was humbled by the learning curve and the "amount of time and attention that staff pay to all of the matters that go before the MDC." He told councilors he would weigh council concerns respectfully and rely on staff technical expertise for complex code and ordinance questions.

The committee also advanced several zoning board reappointments. Proposal 4 would reappoint Jennifer Witt to Metropolitan Zoning Appeals Board Division 1 (Witt was not present; attendance records were noted). Proposal 5 reappointed Patrice Duckett Brown to Division 2; Duckett Brown said she had served on the zoning board "about 4 years" and described her role as an advocate for the city. Proposals 6 and 7 reappointed Percy Bland Jr. and Roderick Bohannon to Metropolitan Zoning Appeals Board Division 3; both were absent and had attendance records on file.

Motions to recommend that the council "do pass" each proposal were made and carried by roll call. For proposal 3 (Brandon Herget) the committee voted 15 Aye, 0 Nay. The committee recorded identical 15-0 recommendations for proposals 4, 5, 6 and 7.

The recommendations now move to the full City-County Council for final adoption. The committee concluded its agenda and adjourned afterward.