Commissioners as Neighborhood Advocates
by William M. Harris
Planning commissioner William M. Harris offers his thoughts on the downside of commissioners acting as advocates for their own neighborhoods.
From PCJ #27, Summer 1997
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Planning commissioners are appointed to serve in an advisory capacity to the local governing body. They are expected to guide the construction and interpretation of the comprehensive plan, and to employ implementation tools such as zoning and
subdivision regulation to ensure orderly development.
When commissioners are viewed as promoting their own interests,
however, citizens may legitimately wonder about the fairness of
the process, and feel vulnerable. In my experience, this
includes situations where commissioners become advocates for
their own neighborhood.
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