OCR Text |
Show Planning Commission Resigns En Masse After Council Vote The following is a copy of the letter submitted to Mayor L. V. Broadbent by the members of the City Planning and Zoning Commission, following a meeting meet-ing of the City Council Tuesday night on proposed zoning changes: ft ft ft Cedar City, Utah, August 3, 1950. Mayor and City Council Cedar City, Utah Gentlemen: The recent public hearing on a proposal to change the city zoning zon-ing ordinance and the subse-oupnt subse-oupnt art Inn of thp cttv council in approving the change over the objections of the Planning and Zoning Commission and a majority of those present at the hearing have served to focus public attention on the status of planning and zoning In Cedar City. It is evident from action of the council on this amendment amend-ment that the work of developing develop-ing a master plan for the physical physi-cal development of the city has little or no support among the council members. However, Mayor May-or Broadbent's support and confidence, con-fidence, and his understanding of purposes of the Planning and Zoning Commission is greatly appreciated. In 1941, the city adopted a zoning zon-ing ordinance with the unanl-(Continued unanl-(Continued on bock page) Planning Commission (Continued from Fog. 1) mous support of civic groups and business leaders In 1945 the city council established a planning plan-ning commission. This was also done at the request of civic groups Including the Community Communi-ty Coordinating Council which Is representative of every organized group within our city. The Planning Plan-ning and Zoning Commission is charged by law with developing - . - i r-.. j fit.. a master plan iui v.ruar ihj, with advising and recommending to the city council their findings find-ings after investigation and study, stu-dy, and after holding public hearings. During the past five years the Planning and Zoning Commission Commis-sion has conducted more than one hundred regular meetings, and nearly one hundred other sessions, in addition to the hours spent by individual members working on specific assignments. The commission has retained the services of one of the best planning plan-ning and zoning consultants available. The same consultant Is being used by Salt Lake City, St. George, Nephl, Tooele Logan and Davis county. Among other studies, the commission has completed com-pleted a comprehensive land use map, a master plan for the Coal Creek recreation area, a preliminary prelim-inary street and road plan, a street numbering system, and an exhaustive study of zoning prob lems and requirements. Numerous Numer-ous other preliminary studies have been made in line with the duties imposed by law upon the commission. Despite the fact that the Planning and Zoning Commission, Commis-sion, through its long studies, is better equipped to make recommendations recom-mendations on physical developments develop-ments than any other group, successive suc-cessive city councils have repeatedly repeat-edly ignored its recommendations recommenda-tions and advice. Minutes of the commission will provide many specific examples such as sale and purchase of land without any consideration for over-all planning, opening and closing of streets, and planning of public buildings. Admittedly the city councils have not been legally obliged to follow the commission's recommendations. recom-mendations. But, it would appear to be for the best good of the cuMiiiiuiuiy to esiaunsn a cioseiij working relationship between II the commission and council. II It can only be concluded, I therefore, that the effy council I prefers to act hastily under pres- I sure of small selfish groups ra- II ther than accept the studied I opinion of those charged with I the responsibility for city plan- I ning. We are, therefor, submit- I ting our respective, resignations I effective on this date, August 3, I 1950. I We believe 'he council should II reappraise the future of planning 1 1 and support the Planning and II Zoning Commission In the face II of small pressure groups, or re-II peal the ordinance. II Respectfully yours, II Cpriar fltv Planning and 1 1 Zoning Commission, ANN J. GARDNER, Chairman. D. C. DIX PRUDENCE CROFT W. S. (Dub) LEIGH GEORGE A. WOOD MYRON F. HIGBEE |