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Show left get organized Regardless of whether it is MX, molybdenum moly-bdenum or geothermal, it seems likely that Mllford Is going to grow In the next few years. Most of us welcome growth for many reasons, because major or minor, any growth will help to reverse the trend of negative growth experienced over the past twenty years. In anticipation of this growth, Mllford was out front with a master plan, zoning, subdivision and mobile home ordinances in the early 1970's. On paper, Milford is ready to handle almost any growth circum -stance In an orderly and competent fashion. In other words, It would seem that we have our house In order to accept company, a few friends, or the whole tribe. But In reality, it works quite differently. Even though our ordinances are highly res -. pected as being complete and adequate to I handle almost any circumstance, there is r still confusion, unnecessary delays, and :: frustration to anyone who attempts develop- ment, whether it Is annexation, subdividing or a simple home remodeling. The problem Is that there Is no single '- authority that a developer can talk to, to find out what Is necessary to comply with : local ordinances. The ordinances are not readily available for individual study, and : while it is not the intent, developers seem to get a run around. Mllford needs a zoning administrator ; in a single person. A paid employee of the city, who Is well versed on the ordi-: ordi-: nances, who can answer most questions : on the spot, and get the answers for others ; without delay. I The Planning Commission, a volun- teer citizen group, appointed by the city has performed not only their own job, but that of zoning administrator. We commend those individuals who have donated many : hours to their Community. : However, their function as zoning ad ministrator requires that a committee (majority (ma-jority of the Planning Commission) acton every permit application, every routine function, that could and should be handled right at the city office. This often resolves In confusion and delays that are unnecessary. un-necessary. For Instance last week the Planning Commission approved a permit for Park Motel to move several rooms of the motel onto property zoned for multiple family dwellings. That should have been all that was necessary for the permit to be Issued by the clerk. Instead the application wound up before Council with no specific recommendation recom-mendation except the approved signatures of the Planning Commission. The Council, lacking adequate information informa-tion on the application, which was evidently researched by the Planning Commission, referred the application back to the Planning Plan-ning Commission for recommendation on a variance or conditional use permit. The result, at least another two week delay. True, many developers aren't really serious about annexation or building a subdivision. They are only testing the water. But they continually take Council time to inquire as to the next step or procedure. pro-cedure. All of which could be handled by a zoning administrator. As It Is, developers often seem to be getting a run around and often their applications are incomplete, which causes further delays. The City Fathers are seriously considering hiring a city manager. Possibly, Possi-bly, this is the correct step. Someone to coordinate the city crew, engineers, office staff, and act as ozning administrator. However, that Is a big step, and an expensive ex-pensive one. And maybe premature. But certainly, we can hire a zoning administrator, from the many competent people locally, so that confusion and delays are cut to a minimum, so that the Council and Planning Commission do not have to perform routine tasks, and so that when they are required to act, there is someone who has gathered, or seen to It that all information informa-tion Is available on which to make an Intelligent Intelli-gent decision. 'Red' |