This year the Chilkat Valley News asked members of its audience to submit questions they have for candidates. While most of them were for borough assembly candidates, David Thomas asked, “If the planning commission is there to only interpret code and advise the assembly on development based on the comprehensive plan – do you feel that a candidate can have a platform to run on in an election?
Eben Sargent said he rejected the premise of the question that the role of the planning commission is so narrow. “I think planning … if you look across the country, what these kinds of boards do, planning is a big part of it. And, you know, planning is inherently about having ideas,” he said.
Still, he said there is a risk of making things too political and that’s something people running for a planning seat should consider.
“I think it’s totally appropriate to have a platform,” he said. But going forward, he suggested the borough could consider splitting the planning commission into appointed seats and elected ones.
“It’s not my opinion that the planning commission should just review permits and make code recommendations. I think there should be a little bit more holistic planning going on,” he said.
Joe Parnell said he thinks a candidate can have a platform to run on, particularly if they want to change something about how the borough runs. “The planning commission could make a recommendation to the assembly to change the code,” he said.
In his case, Parnell said his platform is centered on addressing blighted properties in the borough. “It’s in Title 8.12, nuisances, it says it’s unlawful to maintain a building in a state of disrepair or deterioration. Yes, the word is unlawful and we’re supposed to be following the laws.”
Jerry Lapp said he thinks converting the planning commission into elected positions made the process political.
“The process is not supposed to be political,” he said. “You’re supposed to be fair and equal to all things that come before you. If you do not like an industry, do you treat them differently than this other industry? I don’t believe in that. I think they all should be treated equally, you go by code and you follow the comprehensive plan.”