Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the General Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Spring City debates revamp of general plan and zoning exceptions to help aging residents
Summary
Council members argued over whether to hire outside consultants or pursue incremental in-house updates to a decades-old general plan, and discussed creating criteria to allow zoning exceptions for elderly residents who need family nearby.
Council members and planning commissioners opened an extended discussion on whether Spring City's general plan should be comprehensively revised or amended in smaller steps. Several members argued the plan underpins many citizen complaints and that clarifying the plan and related master plans could reduce future conflicts.
Council member Michael (S6) said he compiled state guidance and League of Cities materials and provided binders for reference. He suggested technology could speed drafting but cautioned it must be paired with community involvement: "it's missing that key element of the citizen involvement." Members debated hiring outside professionals versus relying on internal work; one member warned about paying tens of thousands of dollars for a consultant and then needing frequent updates, while others urged experienced guidance to avoid repeating past flawed efforts.
The planning group discussed how the board of adjustments is constrained by state law and whether the council could provide clearer criteria so planners and hearings officers can grant exceptions in hardship cases. Council member (S7) cited a recent public comment involving "the 91 year old" Karen and a neighbor with MS who needs family nearby as an example of where the current rules may produce harmful outcomes for older residents.
Members agreed on process goals: gather suggested criteria for exceptions, compile problems that a new or revised plan should address, contact stakeholders (including a consultant referred to as Kate Van Buren) to brief the council in July, and publish supporting master plans on the city website after adoption to improve transparency. No final policy changes were adopted; next steps are to collect input, draft criteria, and present a resolution or briefing to city council in July.
