Electric City seeks citizens for planning commission

Citizens of Electric City can have more say in the goings on of the city. 

The city of Electric City would like local residents to be a part of their planning process in the form of a commission.

The city council has discussed in recent meetings forming a planning commission, a new version of a planning “agency” that existed in the past. 

The commission would consist of the city planner and five local residents and would address situations revolving around rezoning, subdivision, planned unit developments, special use reviews, and site and architectural plan reviews.

The commission’s purpose would be “to review and advise the City Council on public and private activities involving the physical, social, and economic development of the City and to review and make a comprehensive plan for the physical development of the City,” a description on the city’s website reads. “The Commission also reviews and advises the City Council on matters concerning long range planning for land within the City boundaries and areas outside the City boundaries which relate to the City’s long-range planning.” 

City Clerk Peggy Nevsimal provided some examples of situations the commission would review, such as a resident wanting to build on a vacant lot but not wanting to adhere to the setbacks in the city code because of a waterline running through the property that makes building according to the setbacks awkward. 

Another example could be a landowner wanting to build a shop with living quarters on his property, and live in that structure while building a permanent residence, something the municipal code doesn’t allow, but the landowner would like the city to reconsider.

The commission has five positions available and those who volunteer to serve on it can apply for two- or four-year terms, according to an advertisement from Electric City.

More information is available at http://www.electriccity.us/planning-commission.

Those interested in serving on the commission need to submit a letter of interest by Friday, Aug. 28, either by email to ecclerk@electriccity.us, or by dropping off a letter of interest at city hall.