The Commissioner — Spring 2005

Commissioner's Voice

Keys to Success for the Planning Commission

By Ernest B. Vanarsdall
Chair Henrico County Planning Commission
Richmond, Virginia

There are many key elements that contribute to the success of a planning commission, but four factors must be considered in the process of achieving the commission's goal of arriving at a proper decision:

• Professional staff
• Appointed officials
• Ccitizens
• Elected officials

First, an application for a rezoning request is filed with the professional staff. They begin by verifying that the request is in accordance with the land use plan of the comprehensive plan, which has been adopted by elected officials according to state code. Staff prepares a very detailed report to provide the planning commission with the information that will assist the commissioners to make a decision on the request. These reports are forwarded to the planning commission well in advance of a public hearing.

The planning commissioners carefully review these reports and discuss them with the staff who compiled them. The next step is to schedule a meeting for those citizens who will be most affected by the proposed rezoning request. A commissioner, a staff member, and the applicant will attend this meeting to discuss the request and its alternatives. Consider inviting your elected official as well.

Next, the commission will hold a public hearing on the request. Because the planning commission is referred to as "the lightning rod" for the elected officials, a recommendation is expected at the public hearing. The commission only recommends on rezoning requests. However, for plans of development (POD), the commission makes the final decision.

We have now reached the fourth factor in this process — the elected officials. They make the final decision on the requests and plans at their public hearing.

There are other important key elements for commissioners to remember. Maintain a close professional relationship with other members of the commission and staff, as well as elected officials and department heads. Keep an open mind in considering the impact on your community. A popular decision is not always a good decision, and a good decision is not always popular. Vote your conscience. Remember — "You can make a good case better, but can't make a bad case good."