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Silence Will Give Consent on
Proposed Planning Changes January 28, 2005 |
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Tomorrow, January 29
could be the beginning of a fundamental change in the way Richmond
provides discretionary review of development projects. There will be
a workshop in the City Council Chamber from 9:00 AM until 12:00 noon
wherein the Planning Department will present procedures intended to
reduce the time required to process development projects.
Some of these proposals
may constitute best practices for simply managing the discretionary
review and permit process, and that may be a good thing. Based on a
discussion that took place in last Tuesday's City Council meeting,
it appears that some of the changes are intended to "get control" of
rogue Design Review Board members and Planning Commissioners who are
perceived to be impeding the progress of projects the City Council
wants approved in order to generate funds needed to keep the City
solvent.
In last Tuesday's City Council meeting,
the Toll Brothers Terminal 1 project was given as an example of a
project that needed to be swiftly moved through the process so that
the City could consummate a $13 million sale, the funds from which
are needed to balance the budget. Reference was made to Design
Review Board members and Planning Commissioners who are too
independent and measures could be taken to correct that oversight.
This will be the fourth such workshop.
The previous three were held during weekday mornings and were
attended exclusively by City staff, a few Design Review Board
members and Planning Commissioners, a few City Council members and
representatives of the development community. The public was largely
absent.
If community members interested in the
development review process fail to attend this workshop and get
involved in this discussion, the next step will be to present the
changes as a fait accompli that has wide community support.
For additional information, see TOM BUTT
E-FORUM
Development Review
Process Workshop Rescheduled,
January 16, 2005.
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