Planning Commission Meeting

🗣️ Public comment revisited the RAC’s work: members thanked the commission for reviewing their findings but urged broader outreach, weekend events with food, and clearer maps before any UGB decision.
📋 Planning staff recapped the RAC process and explained that the “north-of-town park” concept drove much of the public enthusiasm for the current draft map.
🔍 Commissioners launched a deeper dive into the Transportation Growth Management (TGM) grant—clarifying it focuses on transportation choices, not automatic UGB expansion, and that it expressly encourages leveraging existing communities.
🧭 The meeting set the stage for future mapping work sessions by confirming that all UGB-related deliberations would happen during the “unfinished business” agenda item after public comment.

Public Comment Themes
- Former commissioner Larry Gonzalez praised the RAC’s diligence and encouraged the commission to keep mining that research as they craft a recommendation.
- Emily Waldron (RAC member) cautioned that only ~5 % of residents participated in prior workshops; she argued the “preferred” map emerged largely because it was the only option that included a northern park, not because stakeholders understood the rest of the 855-acre footprint. She also cited specific TGM sections that emphasize transportation investments within existing communities and questioned whether housing analyses meant for 10k+ residents truly apply to North Plains today.
- Several speakers asked for more neutral education about the TGM contract, the HNA, and the scope of potential growth.
Commission & Staff Discussion
- Chair Steuart King reiterated that all UGB conversations would occur under unfinished business, so testimony needed to happen during the open comment window.
- Staff acknowledged limited engagement in earlier phases and shared that future outreach will include expanded notices, digital materials, and potential weekend events (subject to budget).
- Commissioners revisited the TGM grant language: it prioritizes multimodal transportation, minimizing new UGB land where possible, and ensuring parks/open space accompany any concept plan. They agreed to invite DLCD back if further clarification is needed.

Staff to prepare enhanced public outreach options (evening/weekend workshops, food, childcare) for the upcoming concept-planning phase and bring costs back to the commission.
Commissioners to review the TGM grant clauses Waldron cited (e.g., §14.1) ahead of the next meeting so they can confirm alignment with state expectations.
Future agendas will continue to separate public comment from work-session discussions to keep deliberations focused and transparent.