Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners ask whether planning commission is independent or advisory
Summary
Commissioner Adams asked whether the planning commission functions independently or as technical counsel to the city; Professor Norton said planning commissions generally advise city council, have limited administrative powers and are less powerful than federal agencies with rulemaking authority.
At the July 28 work session, Commissioner Adams asked whether planning commissions are independent decision-makers or primarily advisory bodies that carry out policy direction from elected officials.
"We are not an independent body," Adams prefaced, describing his background working with federal agencies and noting difference in political accountability. Professor Norton agreed commissioners are generally less powerful than federal rulemaking agencies and said the commission's primary role is to provide technical expertise and recommendations to the city council; only the council can adopt or amend zoning text and maps.
Norton added that planning commissions sometimes exercise administrative authorities, such as site-plan approvals, but they do not have the law-making power of the council. He recommended clear separation of technical advice and policy direction: "We exist to provide technical expertise, and to provide some administrative functions," Norton said. Commissioners said the distinction helps justify the commission’s deeper, deliberative role on land-use questions and underlines the political remedy (elections) if residents disagree with policy outcomes.
