City-run zoning spawns questions
City-run zoning spawns questions
by: KEVIN CANFIELD World Staff Writer
8/17/2008 12:00 AM
For now it's just an idea to be studied by a City Council subcommittee not yet formed. But what would be the repercussions if the city creates its own planning commission?
What would happen, for example, to the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission? Who would provide professional services for the new city planning commission? What about zoning issues in unincorporated parts of Tulsa County?
City Councilor Bill Christiansen, who proposed exploring the issue, acknowledged last week that many questions need to be answered.
He said that with a new Comprehensive Plan in the works and infill development and other planning challenges, it was perhaps time that the city "have its own planning commission that would be accountable to the citizens of Tulsa."
Here are three questions, with possible answers.
What would a city planning commission look like?
At least three options are possible. State statutes provide two, a report by the Indian Nations Council of Governments says.
One option would be a five-member commission appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council. Members would serve three-year terms. The City Council would have final say on all rezoning requests and subdivision regulations. The statute does not address the adoption of a comprehensive plan.
The other option under state statutes is a nine-member committee (one per council district, appointed by the mayor and approved by the council) with six-year terms. The panel would adopt subdivision regulations and the Comprehensive Plan, and the council would keep final say over rezoning.
A possible third option, the City Attorney's Office says, is a different configuration under the corporate powers enumerated in the city's revised charter.
Who would staff it?
This much is known: Nothing keeps the city from retaining INCOG, which provides planning for all its member cities. It provides the equivalent of 9.5 full-time employees to TMAPC.
The Planning Department could also be tapped.
What would it cost?
There is no simple formula to determine this, but the Planning Commission's fiscal year 2008 budget was $842,316, of which the city paid $384,015 and the county paid $458,301.
However, the city and county recoup some of that through application fees, which are split evenly. In 2008, for example, each received $110,312.
TMAPC facts
Established: 1953
Members: 11 — six appointed by the mayor; three appointed by the County Commission; with two ex-officio members, one appointed by the mayor and one appointed by the County Commission chairman, to represent the city and county.
Terms: 3 years
Responsibilities: TMAPC issues zoning recommendations. The City Council or the County Commission has the final say on such issues. The Planning Commission also adopts subdivision regulations that are then certified by either the City Council or the County Commission. The Planning Commission is responsible for adopting the city’s Comprehensive Plan, which then needs the approval of the City Council and the County Commission.
Current composition: Eight of the nine regular members live in Tulsa.
Kevin Canfield 581-8313
