There was a big flap last November when the Zoning Commission (and subsequently the City Council) undercut the new Land Development Code (LDC) for the Heart of Peoria Plan area by approving a special use request from St. Ann’s Church against city staff’s recommendation. Staff had recommended that the architecture of the proposed building be modified to make it consistent with the intent of the LDC and, ultimately, compatible with the residential area surrounding it.
The whole situation betrayed a lack of understanding on the part of many commissioners and council members as to how the LDC works. There was confusion about exactly how to make decisions regarding zoning requests based on the code. So, as a direct result of that situation, the Planning and Growth Management Department, at the Mayor’s direction, put together a training session to help commissioners and council members gain a better understanding. They brought up Lee Einsweiler from Code Studio in Texas to give a refresher course and answer questions about recent controversial decisions. Lee was part of the team that wrote the LDC, and thus is an invaluable resource on how to use and interpret the code.
The training took place this past Saturday, January 26, from 8:30 a.m. until about 2:00 p.m. at the RiverWest Frank Campbell Community Center. The City Council and Zoning Commission were invited, along with the Planning Commission, Heart of Peoria Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, et. al. It was nice that it was opened up to everyone because it allows us all to get on the same page, is it were, regarding the code.
However, the main reason the meeting was set up was to educate the Zoning Commission and the City Council. So, who showed up from those two bodies? From the City Council: Mayor Ardis, Second District Council Member Barbara Van Auken, Third District Councilman Bob Manning, and At-Large Councilmen Gary Sandberg and Ryan Spain. From the Zoning Commission: Mike Wiesehan and Marjorie Klise. That’s it. Five out of 11 council members, and two out of seven zoning commissioners.
Who wasn’t there? From the City Council: First District Councilman Clyde Gulley (whose entire district is under the LDC), Fourth District Councilman Bill Spears, Fifth District Councilman Pat Nichting, and At-Large Councilmen Eric Turner, Jim Montelongo, and George Jacob. Jacob in particular has been asking a lot of questions lately about the LDC, especially regarding porches and accessory structures, but he regrettably couldn’t make it to the training where he could have gotten those questions answered (he was out of town for his son’s hockey game). From the Zoning Commission: Greg Hunziker (chairman), Rich Unes (who said during the St. Ann’s discussion, “I don’t think we have the authority to tell them how to build their building”), Curt Davis, Tim Shea, and Mark Misselhorn. Shea and Misselhorn were appointed to Zoning Dec. 17 — after the St. Ann’s situation. Misselhorn was out of town on Saturday, but he’s also on the Heart of Peoria Commission and is already well-versed in the LDC.
It’s bothersome to me that so many people missed this training session. It was important. It was necessary. It was brought in specifically for the Zoning Commission and City Council. And yet look at the attendance. If this were just a one-time deal, that would be one thing. But there are some zoning commissioners who haven’t attended any of the consultant-selection meetings, the subsequent charrettes, or the all-committee training sessions. If commissioners are not available and/or willing to educate themselves on new zoning regulations, why are they on the commission? How can they adequately fulfill their duties? If council members don’t understand the LDC and don’t take advantage of training opportunities, how can they make informed votes on the council floor?
I want to commend those council members and zoning commissioners who made this training a priority. Hopefully those who didn’t attend will defer to these more informed members when questions regarding the LDC come up in the future.
It makes you wonder why people serve on those boards and commissions. Is it really to help the community or is it to serve self interests? When these people are elected or appointed they have a responsibility to the community they serve by participating in these activities.
Oh course are elected officials in this town are loosing any credibility they may have had by their choice of an interim city manager. Starting to smell like Chicago politics.
KUDOS TO THE COMMISSION MEMBERS, MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED THIS MEETING; THEY ALL HAVE FAMILIES OF SORT, AND JOBS THAT COULD REQUIRE THEIR ATTENTIONON WEKENDS; THEY ARE COMMENDED!