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Polk sets UDO public hearing for Sept. 17
Published 4:36pm Wednesday, August 8, 2012Polk County commissioners have scheduled for Sept. 17 a public hearing and special meeting at which they could approve the majority of the unified development ordinance (UDO).
Commissioners met Monday, Aug. 6 and debated whether the county is ready to move forward with the UDO, which combines all county ordinances into one document.
Commissioner Ted Owens voted against setting a date for the public hearing and special meeting, saying commissioners have not yet seen a draft ordinance to review.
The UDO committee recommended a draft earlier this year and sent it to the Polk County Planning Board, which has been holding weekly meetings to review and revise the draft before recommending it to commissioners. The planning board meets today (Thurday, Aug. 9) at 5 p.m., when it is scheduled to review the final two sections of the ordinance. The planning board has decided to work separately on article 25, which deals with ridgelines, because it will be time-consuming.
The planning board also still must determine the slope level at which special regulations for building will be required. Elevation requirements have been taken out of the draft as recommended by the UDO committee.
“We’re going to schedule a hearing on the UDO that has not been officially presented to commissioners by the planning board, correct?” Owens asked.
Owens argued that setting a public hearing pbefore the planning board submits an official recommended ordinance is not standard procedure and questioned why other commissioners are rushing. He said he’d feel more comfortable waiting on the recommendation and having an opportunity to discuss any questions commissioners may have with the planning board.
All other commissioners present said that the county has been working on the UDO for two years and commissioners have been involved in the entire process.
“If you have questions, then there’s a problem,” said commissioner chair Ray Gasperson.
Commissioner vice-chair Renée McDermott said commissioners have attended the UDO and planning board meetings and comments have been allowed. She also said commissioners have been given two copies of the UDO draft.
“So there’s no need to draw this out,” McDermott said. “It’s not necessary.”
McDermott also said the idea of setting the public hearing so early is to give everyone a great deal of notice so the public can be prepared and can comment.
Owens said he just wants to get it right when the county approves the UDO and doesn’t think the time for commissioners to comment is during planning board meetings.
County planner Cathy Ruth said the planning board should be able to get through the UDO, minus Article 25 on the ridgelines, in the next two to three meetings. The ridgeline portion, she said could take months.
The public hearing on Sept. 17 will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a special meeting where commissioners could consider adopting the UDO. Commissioners said this week it is possible they will hold a joint work session with the planning board to discuss the recommended draft prior to the public hearing.
This is an obvious tactic of the lame duck members of the Polk County commission and the ruling majority of commissioners now in charge who intend to vote for this sweeping legislation imposed upon Polk County citizen REGARDLESS OF ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS OR EXISTING SENTIMENT AGAINST THE 400 PAGES OF CHANGES. Their intent is pass this before the election and it is like a freight train which cannot be stopped. The planning board has been informed of corruption in local government surrounding this proposal and has suppressed that corruption and not allowed any mention of the flaws in their thinking and the flawed data which has been presented. The citizens of Polk County are having imposed upon them by this sweeping legislation vast changes to each property owner which is being supported by conclusions and suppositions which leave open, as always, the utterly ridiculous situation which is now being used to support the need for this sweeping change. The old, old story of Polk County and local towns will remain free to do as they please on steep slopes or any place in the county, while we as private citizens face a continued heavier than ever burden of rules, fees, and new laws which limit and in many cases prohibit use of our private property which reduces the value of our property in practical permanent sense. Much of the damage to this county used to justify the need for this sweeping reform has been caused by local government activity in the form of roads, railroad, town water supplys, and already imposed sanctions. This is being ignored by our local government. It is also ignoring the fact of life outright corruption in local government is responsible for at least one case of a landslide used by local government to get a FEMA grant which has never been repaired. Whenever this is brought up the ruling majority of the Polk county commission is quick to jump up and remark, “They are just trying to stir this up.” While at the same time holding public hearings and at the public hearing of course all decorum is maintained by the same folks……..who tolerate no criticism of their intended path of action. This UDO legislation is like a freight train being imposed on us citizens of POLK and certain to be approved no matter what anyone says before the election in November. I suggest we as citizens point that freight train toward the ravine and tracks which hang in the sky at Milepost 39 which is the site of the FEMA corruption scheme. My opinion, as usual, is as close as you will ever get to the truth of this matter of the UDO which is being covered up by the same folks responsible for those tracks hanging in sky………..