I can only comment on my "gut feelings" on the proposed split
relative to my 13 years experience on the Moscow P&Z.
I think I have learned a lot from both my planning and my zoning
experiences. I think my zoning experience makes me a better planner, and
my planning experience makes me a better zoner. I think it important that
planners have to regularly face the public and actually make zoning
decisions based on their plans.
Both city and county commissions face very heavy workloads trying
to accomplish both the planning and zoning roles. Both of us put in long
hours of volunteer time with little recognition. I understand the
burnout and frustration that lead to the proposal. I too feel both the
burnout and the frustration.
Actually, it is going to be interesting to watch the city and
county trying to staff one P&Z commission with competent, interested,
committed people, let alone separate planning and zoning commissions in
the future. In case none of you were aware of it the just adjourned
legislature has term-limited these commissions, which is going to require
the finding of a lot more people willing to put in their time.
The ideal answer would be more staff support -- but of course that
seems like an impossible dream in the current environment.
My fear is that the county will split the commission -- and the
two will then find reason to fight. The zoners will accuse the planners
of "ivory towerism" -- of not knowing what things are really like on the
ground. The planners will accuse the zoners of not buying in to the
spirit of the plan and circumventing its intent. Talk about the
potential for planning gridlock!
Thank God the idea of splitting the city P&Z commission did not
emerge as a priority of the Moscow City Council.
Joel Hamilton