Agenda - 05-08-2014 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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36 Commissioner Gordon: I have a question about this. If we don't continue the public hearing until March 18th, then there won't be a chance for applicant and staff to meet with local property owners. Is that correct? Michael Harvey: Without speaking for Strata Solar, in your packet, and it has already been introduced into evidence, Strata Solar has committed to meeting with adjacent property owners to address or discuss their concerns. Staff has also indicated to Strata Solar that we will be meeting with them with the property owners. There will be time. Obviously you can accept written evidence, written updates, as the planning board can. I think, Commissioner Rich, just to further explain why you have the dual recommendations. We didn't get adjacent property owner comments until after the, obviously, abstract went out. So, we were trying to, quote, hedge our bets and give the Board as much leeway, and give the Board as much support in terms of a motion that would address your needs. Commissioner Gordon: Well I'll move a substitute motion of the second recommendation. Chair Jacobs: Well why don't we hear from Commissioner Dorosin first. He's been waiting to speak. Commissioner Dorosin: I just want to ask a procedural question. We're having this public hearing today. We're going to vote to send it to the planning board for their consideration, and they're going to hold a — receive public comment in their meetings? Michael Harvey: They can receive written comments per the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), which become part of the record and part of their deliberation. Now, if I am an interested party and wish to comment or talk about what I've written, that's been allowed at the planning board; but typically it's only written comment. Commissioner Dorosin: So there is going to be some — It's going to go to the planning board. They're going to take in everything they heard today. They're going to review it. They're going to make some comments, maybe, and come back, and we're going to meet again. This is going to come back, according to the first motion, on May 8th, and then at that time we're going to not take any additional public comment. It's going to be one of those fake public hearings, where it's a public hearing, but the public is not allowed to give comment, and then we're going to vote at that time on the CUP, presumably. Chair Jacobs: Yes, presumably, right, with whatever additional materials were presented to the planning board, which presumably could include neighbor's concerns as addressed to Strata Solar or the planning board. Commissioner Dorosin: Right. Well, I just — So, I understand that's the way that things have been done, and that's how it's been set up; but it strikes me as being not the most efficient process. If we value the planning board's input in this, I would think that input would be relevant to the actual public hearing where the public gets to comment as well. So, I just wonder if, in the future, it wouldn't make more sense to have the planning board review the application and bring forward a recommendation, and then we — and that is part of this public hearing that people get to comment on. So they get to see what the planning board has said. They get to see how the applicant has responded to the planning board's suggestions, and then — Now of course it might take another round after that, but conceivably at this point, we could have a vote, with all the people here. So, maybe this is something to put onto our procedural review agenda,