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Zoning panel's days look numbered
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK BROOKSVILLE -- Hernando County's Planning and Zoning Commission, which county commissioners assailed as too political over the summer, is on a course toward dissolution by spring. The all-Democrat County Commission would take over many of the Republican-dominated panel's key responsibilities, especially those relating to land development regulations. Matters such as rezonings and conditional use permits would go to a new board to which each commissioner would appoint a member, whose term would end within 90 days after the commissioner leaves office. Such a setup has some current planning and zoning members, and at least one county commissioner, questioning whether the new has as many political pitfalls as the old. "I still have a problem with the way the members of the Planning Commission would be appointed," planning Chairman Anthony Palmieri said. "It becomes a political payoff. . . . They will appoint somebody just to pay him off, whether he's qualified or not." County Commissioner Betty Whitehouse acknowledged some of her colleagues had complaints about the Planning and Zoning Commission's performance during the summer, prompting the call for an overhaul. Problems have ceased since, though, leaving her to wonder whether change is needed. "This is not really a pressing issue with me," Whitehouse said. "I have asked for a list of pros and cons. . . . I want to make sure we're not fixing something that isn't broken." Commissioner Diane Rowden, the first to recommend abolishing the planning board, had no such qualms. "I think it certainly is a lot better than what we have," Rowden said. "It's protection for development applicants and the interested parties." She and commission Chairman Chris Kingsley particularly bristled at the planning board's unwillingness to consider an ordinance proposed to regulate large retail stores, and its disrespectful treatment of staff members. The recommended format, which commissioners are scheduled to discuss Dec. 18, will allow the commission's vision for the county to progress without being politicized, Kingsley said. "I think this pretty much reflects what we generally want to see." The proposed ordinance, as written by the county legal staff, gives all comprehensive planning and ordinance review powers to the County Commission. Under the current method, the planning board reviews such items before commissioners take final action. Al Sevier, planning vice chairman, suggested commissioners need to think long and hard before taking that job. "We don't have to be re-elected, so we act as a buffer," Sevier said. "You've removed that hands-off position that you've had with the volunteer Planning and Zoning Commission." Palmieri also worried that the change would eliminate an opportunity for community input. "We look at the ordinance, we have a public hearing, and we determine whether or not the ordinance complies with the comprehensive plan," he said. "We come up with a lot of suggestions that they could either accept or disregard. It's another public hearing you're doing away with." Kingsley said he did not share those concerns. "We are never without people who are willing to give us their input," he said. "I don't think that's going to change at all." Commissioner Nancy Robinson noted that the new rule, if adopted, would allow the commission to establish ad hoc expert committees to make recommendations on specific proposals. "The more community involvement we have in this process is good for the community," Robinson said. The ordinance also would eliminate the Planning and Zoning Commission, replacing it with a less powerful Planning Commission. Each county commissioner would appoint one member to the new board, with majority approval, and the member would serve at the commission's pleasure. If the appointing commissioner left office for any reason, the planning member would be forced from the board within 90 days of a new commissioner taking office. Palmieri and Sevier cautioned that the appointment method could make the seats little more than political plums for commissioners' friends and backers. When first discussing the idea, Commissioner Mary Aiken also was critical, likening the proposal to the "buddy system." Rowden said the system would make the planning board members more responsive to commission directives -- one of her chief criticisms of the current board. She did not worry about cronyism, stating that commissioners who like a planning member can recommend that a new commissioner reappoint the member. Kingsley said he would oppose arbitrary appointments, preferring to see resumes and qualifications before voting to confirm a candidate. "I don't want to see people up there who (are nominated because) he's my neighbor or he helped me on my campaign," Kingsley said. "I think there will be further consideration." None of the commissioners seemed open to the idea of appointing planning members by category, such as engineer or architect, rather than by commissioner selection of any Hernando County registered voter of two years or longer. If a commissioner wants to name a real estate agent, Kingsley said, that's whom he or she will choose. The issues will engender lively debate, Kingsley predicted: "The five of us are unique unto ourselves." Sevier just hoped commissioners' initial qualms with the Planning and Zoning Commission warrant what might come. "A couple of commissioners were unhappy with a couple of us," he said. "They couldn't get rid of one of us without getting rid of us all. (The new ordinance is) beyond what I think they wanted." -- Staff writer Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Hernando County government and can be reached at 754-6115. Send e-mail to solochek@sptimes.com.
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