Board modernizes community involvement rules, removes CPOs and transfers CCI duties

Washington County commissioners voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 9-15, which updates the county's comprehensive-plan language and Community Development Code to reflect prior Board direction (R&O 2614) that restructured the county's community participation framework.

Todd Borkowitz, senior planner, described the ordinance as a set of comprehensive-plan and code amendments that remove references to community planning organizations (CPOs) and the former Committee for Citizen Involvement (CCI), designate the Planning Commission as the Goal 1 committee for citizen involvement, and modernize notice and neighborhood meeting requirements. "Ordinance 9 15 would amend these comprehensive plan elements... and the Community Development Code," Todd said while outlining proposed changes.

Public commenters expressed concern that eliminating the local CPO notification structure will leave a gap in neighborhood-level information-sharing. Mary Manso, who said she represented a local group and offered both a letter for the record and individual testimony, told the board that CPOs previously distributed hyperlocal notices and that the countywide SPARK program may not replace that local reach. "Elimination of the local CPO program is leaving a gap that will not be filled with the community engagement program that focuses on countywide issues," Manso told commissioners.

The Planning Commission had voted 8-0 to recommend approval, and staff said answers to implementation questions were included in the board packet. After brief commissioner remarks acknowledging volunteer contributions, the board voted 5-0 to adopt the ordinance and the associated findings and authorized the chair to sign the resolution and order memorializing the action.