I’ve previously discussed the importance of a document called a Staff Analysis that is provided to the Planning Commission, and through them, to the Town Council. Unfortunately, the Town of Christiansburg’s government officials do not feel this is important.
Town of Christiansburg Finance Committee Meeting: 1st Budget Discussion.
Christiansburg VA Town Council Meeting Full of Surprises
INFORMATION NEEDED! Where are the staff reports for land use issues?
Comprehensive Plan vs Comprehensive Plan Map, Reading Between the Lines
A good use of property but a very bad way to allow it to happen. Rezoning from R-2 to B-3
These documents contain information that is crucial for elected officials to make educated and responsible land use decisions.
In order to show you what I mean, I found some good samples from the website of other jurisdictions. If you get a chance to look at one or two you will have a better idea of what I have been talking about.
City of Chesapeake Department of Planning Post Office Box 15225 Chesapeake, Virginia 23328-5225
CITY OF GLENDALE PLANNING DEPARTMENT DESIGN REVIEW STAFF REPORT CONTEXT
Montgomery County, VA: Planning: Planning Commission: Archives: Staff Analysis: Sarah M. Wall SUP
Attachment C Staff Analysis LAKE MANASSAS OVERLOOK/SAM JONES PROPERTY
As you can see, there is a consistent pattern. Students in Planning Programs throughout the country are taught how to do this. In other words, it is standard practice in the profession and standard practice in local government.
Next time you get a chance ask one of your Town Council or Planning Commission for information such as you see in the documents but related to a land use issue here. Could they answer that question? If not, is it in a report that they can look at before they make their decision. (Oops…that would also mean the Town Council and Planning Commission would need to have the folders of information more than 5 minutes before the meeting begins…..another inconvenience.)
Listen to the audio and video recordings of Planning Commission and Town Council meetings to see if these types of information are even brought forward, much less used in the decision-making process. This one document, if prepared honestly by the planning department, could provide Town Council with a much better understanding of how the decisions they make will affect the town. Those decisions should be made using this rather than solely on whether or not the proposed zoning, rezoning, or conditional use permit will bring tax money into the town.
Of course, there is one drawback to such a document. It becomes a part of the official record and the public can then have access. It sure seems that Town of Christiansburg goes to extreme efforts to keep people from knowing what is going on. If the land use decision that made has a negative impact on you, wouldn’t you like to know that all issues had been looked at and that there was a legitimate reason for your loss?
