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Planning Commission asks staff to draft zoning amendments adding civil penalties and a six‑month review for conditional use permits
Summary
Commissioners directed staff to draft ordinance language to add civil penalties for zoning violations and to set a six‑month review period (with an option for up to a six‑month extension approved by majority) for conditional use permit applications after rejecting a motion to allow 12 months for review.
At its Jan. 24 meeting the Charlotte County Planning Commission directed staff to draft zoning ordinance language to add civil penalties for ordinance violations and to set a six‑month review period for conditional use permit (CUP) applications, with an option for a six‑month extension if approved by a majority vote.
County Attorney Russell Slayton advised commissioners that he did not believe state code imposed a 100‑day deadline for CUP review and said he would not recommend the county adopt a 100‑day statutory requirement. Following that guidance, the commission agreed by consensus to have staff draft language that would add civil penalties as an additional enforcement option for zoning violations.
The commission then debated the period the commission itself should have to review CUP applications. Commissioner Cornell Goldman moved to draft language providing the commission six months to complete its review; Commissioner Kenny Howard seconded. Commissioner David Watkins offered a substitute motion to allow a 12‑month review period; Miller Adams seconded that substitute. The substitute motion failed: Watkins, Adams and Patrick Andrews voted yes; Clark Poindexter abstained; the remaining members voted no.
After the failed substitute, Goldman amended his motion to specify a six‑month review period with an extension provision—"up to a six‑month extension if approved by a majority vote by the Commission"—which the commission approved with all members present voting yes. Separately, the commission voted to ask staff to draft similar language giving the Board of Supervisors six months (with the possibility of a six‑month extension by majority vote) for its review of CUP applications.
Staff also presented the commission’s 2022 annual report, provided an update on recent zoning activities and conditional use permit applications, and previewed an upcoming solar work session. Staff will prepare draft ordinance language for future consideration by the Planning Commission and, if forwarded, the Board of Supervisors.
