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Tusayan council considers using a hearing officer for land-use reviews amid inactive planning commission
Summary
Town staff presented a draft ordinance to allow appointment of a qualified independent hearing officer to perform Planning Commission functions while the planning commission lacks a quorum; the council scheduled a public hearing for April 30 to consider adoption because of statutory processing time limits.
Town Manager Clifton told the Tusayan Town Council April 14 that the town has a pending land-use application that needs processing but that the Planning Commission is not functioning due to lack of a quorum and limited member capacity.
Clifton presented a draft ordinance prepared by the town’s land-use attorney, Frank Cassidy, that would allow the town to appoint a qualified independent hearing officer to act in the Planning Commission’s stead for land-use and zoning matters on a temporary, as‑needed basis. Clifton said this approach is a common practice in similarly sized communities and would provide independent expertise and timely review.
The council agreed to move forward and scheduled a public hearing and special meeting on April 30 to consider adoption of the draft ordinance; Clifton noted there are statutory time limits for processing land-use applications that counsel the town to proceed diligently while ensuring public notice and review.
Ben Gomez, the sole Planning and Zoning Commissioner in attendance, expressed his support for appointing a hearing officer. The council did not take final action on April 14; the matter will return for decision after the April 30 public hearing.
