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Commissioners discuss adding bylaw language to split heavy agendas over two dates
Summary
Several commissioners urged the planning commission to add bylaw language allowing staff to schedule a second date for long or high-interest hearings to avoid extremely late adjournments; they noted notice requirements under state law and preferred retaining the ability to continue hearings when appropriate.
Commissioner (speaker 6) proposed adding flexibility to the commission bylaws to allow staff to set a second meeting date when heavy caseloads or contentious items are anticipated, rather than forcing long single-night hearings.
"I would like to recommend we consider a flexibility in our by laws," the commissioner said, arguing that splitting controversial cases across two days would be fairer to the public and commissioners. Fellow commissioners discussed notice constraints in the Virginia code and noted the alternative of continuing hearings at the meeting itself. Several members indicated support for drafting recommended bylaw language for the commission to consider before the annual meeting-schedule vote in January.
Staff and other commissioners asked the group to weigh public-notice requirements and the administrative burden of a second date against the benefits of avoiding midnight decisions. The commission agreed to have staff prepare proposed language for review at an upcoming meeting before the January schedule adoption.
