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Committee narrows master-plan approval role to planning board; council to receive early presentation
Summary
After legal review flagged a potential conflict, the committee agreed the planning board should approve institutional master plans while the city council will receive an early presentation of complete master-plan applications to review potential fiscal impacts.
Committee members discussed a city-attorney legal opinion that raised concerns about giving the city council final approval of master plans. Staff explained the draft ordinance currently reads that the planning board "recommends" and the city council "approves," and that the attorney recommended the planning board be the adopting entity to avoid conflicts with appeals and the zoning-board-of-appeals process.
Members negotiated a compromise: planning-board final approval would remain the standard, but a presentation to the city council would be required when a master-plan application is deemed complete so councilors can be briefed early on potential fiscal impacts. One council member explained the purpose: "If the city gets a presentation at the beginning stages ... then the council has the opportunity to enact some order ... to prevent a catastrophic financial situation for the citizens." Staff agreed to insert language requiring an early presentation to council but not making council approval a requirement.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 902, topfinish SEG 1280.
