TO: Mayor Collins and Town Council Members
FROM: Kevin Burke, Town Manager
DATE: May 10, 2018
DEPARTMENT: Town Manager
Staff Contact Kevin Burke, Town Manager, 480.348.3690
End
AGENDA TITLE:
Title
Land Use Committees Summer Work Schedule
Body
Town Value(s):
☐ Primarily one-acre, residential community
☒ Limited government
☐ Creating a sense of community
☐ Partnerships with existing schools and resorts to enhance recreational opportunities
☐ Improving aesthetics/creating a brand
☐ Preserving natural open space
All PV committees are staffed by resident volunteers reflecting its limited government model. Further, the Town tries to defer important decision making during the summer months when many residents are out of Town, again limiting the impact of government.
Council Goals or Statutory Requirements:
Governance - Review and seek improvement to processes and procedures for our community.
RECOMMENDATION:
Grant consent for the Board of Adjustment, Hillside Building Committee and Planning Commission to continue work as usual during the 2018 summer months of June, July and August.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Approximately a year and a half ago, Council informally discussed the protocol of suspending meetings of the land use committees during the months of July and August. The concern was that many Paradise Valley residents are out-of-town during these months and unaware of the decisions being contemplated and/or unable to participate in these land use committee meetings. Such reduced awareness and participation could erroneously color the community support or opposition to the project being contemplated. Additionally, there was concern that applicants may try to push through more controversial projects in the summer when there is less participation. Therefore, the Town Manager directed the staff to not schedule any agenda items for July and August 2017.
While these concerns remain, there is a substantial workload for the land use committees and suspending activity would create unmanageable meetings in the Fall as well as greater grievances from affected applicants. The Hillside Building Committee currently has over 20 active applications. The Planning Commission is expecting to work on up to four different Special Use Permit (SUP) amendments including Sanctuary, Smoketree, Hermosa Inn and Lincoln Medical Plaza. Staff is also aware of two variance requests. Consequently, the Town Manager is recommending that these committees continue work as usual through the summer months.
As an alternative, the BOA could be suspended during July and August and the HBC and Planning Commission could be allowed to work in study session and take no action during July and August. All action eligible items from the summer study sessions would then be placed on a consent agenda for the first meeting in September.
As a second alternative, perhaps the applications for these various committees could be separated into those where action is permissible and those were action should be delayed. An example for the Hillside Building Committee might be that Chair reviews, Concept Plan hearings, and non-single family housing applications may be acted upon, but all others would be delayed until September.
The Town Manager has requested the chairs and staff liaisons of each committee attend the study session. This study session seeks Mayor and Council guidance on the question.
BUDGETARY IMPACT:
There is no direct financial impact to the Town from this decision.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Powerpointe Presentation