Change conditional use permits

An open letter to the town planner:

Dear Planner:

No more administrative permits. No more administrative conditional uses and no more administrative variances. These give too much power to the planner and too little oversight from the community.

The code should be:

15.10.043 Conditional use

Conditional use” means a use addressing a limited or specific need but, due to a potential adverse effect upon permitted uses or public services and facilities, is only allowed subject to the review AND APPROVAL OF the planning COMMISSION AND the criteria in this code and advertised in the paper, the library, the post office and sent by request to people who sign up for notifications.

(b) Variances. The planning director shall have the authority to grant variances from the following development standards when the hardship has been demonstrated to have not been created by the applicant and only with the review and approval of the planning commission in a meeting that has been advertised in the paper, the town library and the post office and sent by request to people who sign up for notifications.

This has been abused in the past.

Residents – this should be on the agenda for the Sept. 20 planning commission meeting. Please make your presence and your words be heard.

Linda Talman

La Conner