Commission Again
It's Planning Commission day today. After almost a month away because of Independence Day, receiving the agenda for today's hearing last Friday was a little shock. Back to reality.
Over the last week or so, I've been contacted by a couple of people who are apparently being considered by the city administration to fill an upcoming opening on the commission. Candidates want to know what the time they will need to commit each week, how much reading is there, what is the working environment like, etc.
What do you find challenging about serving on the Planning
Commission?
I was asked.
Coming up with an answer for this was a little tougher than the other, quantitative questions. Basically, the Planning Commission doesn't spend most of its time making big, interesting decisions. Mostly, it's relatively small, run-of-the-mill stuff. Really meaty stuff, like updating the Comprehensive Plan, is relatively rare, while more mechanical things, like a change of zone from AGR (agricultural residential) to R-3 (developing, mid-density residential) are much more common.
Does that mean it's boring? No, but it can be difficult to maintain a perspective on the entire city and county and the future when faced with questions of block-length or sidewalks in an acreage development. And even this is decepetive, since block-length and sidewalk considerations are vital elements of urban design for the future, as Lincoln grows around, over, and through the existing development.
And what are the ethics of converting cultivable land to residential use?
Maintaining perspective. Remembering that block length waivers affect the community. That's a challenge.
Tomorrow morning: Free To Grow Core Team. Tomorrow night: Hartley Neighborhood Assocation board. When the planets align, it makes for a busy week.