06-17-1996 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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(t Request for Council Action continued Page 4 of 8 May 21, 1996 Report Regarding Expediting the Planning Application Review Process 3.) To determine whether the proposed development meets the city’s codes and is feasible. Generally staff does meet w ith applicants to review their proposal prior to submittal of the application, although this is not always the case. In many cases, the applicant has already filed a building permit application, and his/her first contact with staff was a call from the Building Inspector informing them that their project requires a variance. Potential Conflict Between Expedited Staff Review and E.xpeditious Plannini? Commission Review The current planning application review schedule and process often places pressure on staft to conduct the staff review of the application very quickly in order to place it onto an upcoming Planning Commission agenda. It is important the staff review is a thorough one so that the proposal is clear and the implications of the proposal in relation to the city’s zoning codes are clear, and so that all significant issues related to the application are identified and addressed. This may not be possible within a very short time frame. However, if an application is expedited to the Planning Commission too quickly, the probability that the Planning Commission may continue an application for additional information or questions is increased. If staff takes several days to a week or even two weeks to ensure a thorough review, this is a good trade-off versus extending the application review period by four weeks due to a continuation by the Planning Commission. Potential Solutions 1.Require an applicant to meet at least once with staff prior to submittal of the planning application. 2.Require a minimum of 10 days for staff review of the application prior to placing the application on the Planning Commission agenda and including the application in the published notice. 3.Change to an official newspaper with a publication schedule that better fits the city’s meeting schedule, or change Planning Commission meetings to Wednesdays, which would match the current official newspaper’s publication schedule.