How The Planning Board Works

Hernando Today

BROOKSVILLE - When appointing members to the volunteer planning and zoning board, county commissioners seek a cross section of society so each project brought before the P&Z can be observed from different angles.

For example, current member Ken Smith has an agricultural background, Bob DeWitt is knowledgeable about real estate and Bob Widmar brings a business background.

Outgoing members Anna Liisa Covell and Anthony Palmieri brought a business background and, in the case of Palmieri, a retiree's viewpoint.

The five P&Z members are all unpaid volunteers and appointed by the county commissioners for four-year terms.

The job of the P&Z is to vet developers' projects, work out the kinks and solicit public comment before the project goes to county commissioners, who are the final authority on rezonings.

County commissioners then have the option of agreeing or disagreeing with the P&Z recommendation.

Unlike county commissioners, where politics sometimes get entwined in the process, P&Z members are apolitical and judge projects solely from a land use perspective.

"We are guided by the comprehensive plan and the land development regulations," Widmar said earlier this year. "I mean, that's pretty clear."

Sometimes, the planning board's decisions are at odds with county commissioners, who have been known frequently to reverse recommendations of the P&Z.

Earlier this year, County Commissioner Diane Rowden asked the county administrator to look into ways to improve or streamline the planning and zoning process, including the role of the P&Z in making recommendations.

Rowden's request came after a disputed P&Z recommendation.

Covell said at the time that doing away with the planning and zoning process would be disastrous for the county.

Rowden's request died a quick death after county officials spelled out the importance of having a group of people do the preliminary work before it gets to the county commission level.

Who's Next?

P&Z alternate members Mary Preston and Lisa Hammond's terms as alternate members expire this year also. Hammond is one of seven people as of Thursday to submit applications for a regular slot on the board.

Also seeking appointments are former county commissioner Paul Sullivan and former P&Z member and local engineer Nick Nicholson.

County policy restricts regular and alternate planning and zoning members to no more than two consecutive terms.

Alternate members are called in if a regular member is unable to attend a meeting.

For a full description of P&Z members' duties and how they are appointed, visit: http://www.hernandocounty.us/bocc/BoardPolicy/06-01new.pdf