IMPORTANCE OF ATTENDING THURSDAY'S MEETING
Normally, Planning & Zoning Board meetings are not attended by the general public. However, this Thursday’s P & Z meeting [July 17th at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium] involves issues crucial to the future of Indian Rocks Beach and THE PUBLIC IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.
Thursday’s meeting is a review of proposed amendments to IRB’s Comprehensive Plan—the document that is the blueprint for our city’s future. The Comp Plan, mandated by state law, is the “be all and end all” that guides, controls and limits the quality, quantity and type of development activity in IRB. Once the plan it set, the IRB Zoning Code, Building Code, Capital Improvement Plans and all ordinances must be in conformance with THE PLAN. Every seven years, the City must prepare and adopt an Evaluation and Appraisal Report (E.A.R) documenting progress toward PLAN implementation and identifying areas where the PLAN should be amended.
While the Comprehensive Plan is a good thing, insomuch as it prevents waking up one morning to large-scale hi-rises we didn't bargain for, it can also be a proverbial "personal agenda playground." Changes/amendments must be closely reviewed by US, the citizens of IRB, to ensure that the E.A.R. doesn't become a means of ramming through items that otherwise would normally not make the cut—so heads up neighbors!
An issue that continually brings citizens to City Hall in droves is increased regulation of our beach. Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan being considered, once again, threaten to "revive" portions of a Beach Management Plan—a program that was soundly rejected by our citizens back in 2005.
While the Planning & Zoning Board’s review of the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments is only preliminary to the commission’s consideration of the same, it is imperative that citizens get involved NOW, in the early stages. How many times has the commission criticized citizens for waiting until the last minute and not speaking up sooner about particular issues? Weighing in early enables the P & Z Board’s Comp Plan recommendations to go forward to the commission backed by citizen support. The folks who serve on the P & Z Board, and give so much of their personal time to IRB, deserve our support. YOUR ATTENDANCE AT THURSDAY’S MEETING IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED. See you there!
Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB
Normally, Planning & Zoning Board meetings are not attended by the general public. However, this Thursday’s P & Z meeting [July 17th at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium] involves issues crucial to the future of Indian Rocks Beach and THE PUBLIC IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.
Thursday’s meeting is a review of proposed amendments to IRB’s Comprehensive Plan—the document that is the blueprint for our city’s future. The Comp Plan, mandated by state law, is the “be all and end all” that guides, controls and limits the quality, quantity and type of development activity in IRB. Once the plan it set, the IRB Zoning Code, Building Code, Capital Improvement Plans and all ordinances must be in conformance with THE PLAN. Every seven years, the City must prepare and adopt an Evaluation and Appraisal Report (E.A.R) documenting progress toward PLAN implementation and identifying areas where the PLAN should be amended.
While the Comprehensive Plan is a good thing, insomuch as it prevents waking up one morning to large-scale hi-rises we didn't bargain for, it can also be a proverbial "personal agenda playground." Changes/amendments must be closely reviewed by US, the citizens of IRB, to ensure that the E.A.R. doesn't become a means of ramming through items that otherwise would normally not make the cut—so heads up neighbors!
An issue that continually brings citizens to City Hall in droves is increased regulation of our beach. Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan being considered, once again, threaten to "revive" portions of a Beach Management Plan—a program that was soundly rejected by our citizens back in 2005.
While the Planning & Zoning Board’s review of the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments is only preliminary to the commission’s consideration of the same, it is imperative that citizens get involved NOW, in the early stages. How many times has the commission criticized citizens for waiting until the last minute and not speaking up sooner about particular issues? Weighing in early enables the P & Z Board’s Comp Plan recommendations to go forward to the commission backed by citizen support. The folks who serve on the P & Z Board, and give so much of their personal time to IRB, deserve our support. YOUR ATTENDANCE AT THURSDAY’S MEETING IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED. See you there!
Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB
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