Planning commission hopefuls highlight Local Coastal Plan, design review and neighborhood protections

Candidates interviewed for the Planning Commission described varied backgrounds and common priorities on coastal management and design review.

Cameron Cosgrove, an incumbent, said the city's Local Coastal Program (LCP) work is advancing and stressed staff relationships that keep controversial projects from being repeatedly delayed. "The coastal commission gave us a grant for the parking study and a bunch of other studies," he said, describing implementation steps necessary before the city can exercise local LCP authority.

Sarah Schneider, who ran for council previously, said her strategic-planning background and involvement in a prior assisted-living controversy gave her familiarity with the interplay of city, county and state rules. "Anything we can do locally is helpful for us because we are the ones who live with the consequences," she told council.

Several applicants urged maintaining the design review subcommittee as a valuable step that improves projects before they reach the commission. One candidate said the subcommittee helps "kick the tires" so planning commission deliberations can focus on policy rather than basic project fixes.

Councilors debated process and optics when one member voluntarily said he would "recuse myself voting on my wife." The council accepted a motion to appoint Cameron, Karen, Aaron and Scott to the Planning Commission after public tallying and discussion of how recusals would affect scoring.

Next steps: newly appointed planning commissioners will be notified by the city clerk; the commission will continue work on the LCP and related coastal studies.