Want conceptual plans early, review power
The Haines Borough Planning Commission last week unanimously endorsed wording of a draft ordinance that would give the group earlier input and review power on future borough projects.
Borough code stipulates that “the commission shall review and report to the borough assembly regarding the location, design, construction, demolition or disposition of any public building, facility, collector or arterial street, park, green belt, playground or other public facility. The report and recommendation of the commission shall be based upon the comprehensive plan, coastal zone management plan and the capital improvements program.”
But commission chair Rob Goldberg said at last week’s meeting that code does not specify how often or at what point during project design a review should come.
This proposed code change is precipitated by criticism that the commission involvement has been sidestepped, including during planning the harbor expansion design.
During discussion at the meeting, some commissioners criticized wording in the draft ordinance that only public projects with a value over $100,000 would come to the commission.
“It could be a porta-potty they’re putting in at Third and Main. I think that’s something we should be looking at,” said commissioner Brenda Josephson.
But facilities director Brad Ryan and some commissioners said commission approval may take up to four months, and might slow down basic maintenance projects.
Ryan said if his department was building a lean-to shed for storage, he didn’t see why that would need approval from the planning commission. Commissioners Donnie Turner and Lee Heinmiller agreed that routine maintenance should not be reviewed by the commission.
“You cannot account for every possible thing that might happen,” Goldberg said.
Diana Lapham, assembly representative to the commission, commented on her frustration that the public facilities department could be stalled if commissioners required every project to be reviewed.
“We’ve got working people. We have things that need to be done. And I understand that there is a real hard-on, and excuse my vocabulary, that the planning and zoning was not brought into the harbor project. Keep in mind this harbor project started years ago. You’re dealing with a new manager, you’re dealing with a new facilities director, a whole couple new sets of assembly, and don’t blame them for what has been perpetuated for years,” Lapham said.
With counsel from borough attorney Patrick Munson, who attended Thursday’s meeting, the commission added a line that “routine maintenance” be exempted from language requiring commission review.
The proposed new language would adds language to code, including: “Plans for the construction of new borough facilities with a value of $100,000 shall come to the commission for review and a public hearing at the conceptual stage of design. At that time, the commission shall decide whether additional public hearings and design review are required at the 35 percent, 65 percent and 95 percent stages of design.”
The harbor expansion project was designed by the borough’s Ports and Harbors Advisory Committee, a group consisting mainly of fishermen and boat owners.