Leesburg commissioners have rejected a proposal to remove citizens from the planning approval process in favor of a paid professional who could streamline the often bumpy procedure.
Deputy Director Kandi Harper of the city’s Department of Planning and Zoning gave the commissioners a brief breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages of both methods of dealing with zoning issues.
Harper said that the role of the Hearing Officer would be filled by a professionally qualified person with specific planning and land use expertise to make recommendations regarding zoning changes and development proposals.
She said that the magistrate position would be filled by a legal or professional planning expert in land use issues which should result in hearings which would be more focused and streamlined. A hearing officer would most likely render consistent decision devoid of emotional decisions which would reduce cases which lead to litigation. Harper said that the cons of the magistrate approach would that there would be less public involvement, possible perception of bias with a lack of accountability and the cost of compensating the Special Magistrate for their work.
Harper explained that one of the pros of the planning commission is community involvement where citizen representatives are making recommendations to the Leesburg Commission, which should increase transparency and public trust. Harper indicated in her report that the citizen commission process should encourage more neighborhood input. Harper said the cons of a citizen planning and zoning commission would be a possible potential of inconstancies in recommendations because some commissioners may lack technical expertise.
City Manager Al Minner asked the commissioners if they would give him some direction on the hearing officer position. Commissioner Mike Pederson made a motion to create a special magistrate position for Leesburg. Commissioner Jimmy Burry seconded the motion. Pederson told the other commissioners that he had been before a hearing officer on a project in Wildwood and was impressed by that hearing officer. Commissioner Jay Connell thought the present planning commission did a fine job and that the city should avoid paying $50,000 to $100,000 to a lawyer to act as a hearing officer when the present commissioners do the job at little to no cost to the city.
The motion to hire a special magistrate failed with Commissioner Pedreson casting the only yes vote.