[RCAC] COW Review of the 2030 Comp Plan

Paul Brant (who bcc'd RCAC) just sent this email. I approved it to be sent to the list but I don't think Mailman knows how to handle email sent to it as bcc. I'll look into bcc's, but for now you might try simply cc'ing it to RCAC. It's an open list so all messages are public anyway. Regards, Mark -------- Original Message -------- Subject: COW Review of the 2030 Comp Plan Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 14:16:21 -0400 From: paulbrant(a)mindspring.com &lt;paulbrant(a)mindspring.com&gt; Reply-To: paulbrant(a)mindspring.com To: Mitchell Silver &lt;mitchell.silver(a)ci.raleigh.nc.us&gt; CC: Kenneth Bowers &lt;Kenneth.Bowers(a)ci.raleigh.nc.us&gt;us>, Thomas A. Bartholomew Jr. &lt;tbartholomew(a)bellsouth.net&gt;et>, Rodger Koopman &lt;rodger(a)rodgerkoopman.com&gt;om>, Russ Stephenson &lt;Russ.Stephenson(a)ci.raleigh.nc.us&gt;us>, Nancy McFarlane &lt;nancy(a)nancymcfarlane.com&gt; Mitchell, I was very surprised to find out when I attended the PC COW meeting yesterday that there was such specificity in the items being discussed concerning the staff recommended changes to the Land Use Map. While the agenda notification of the meeting indicated a discussion on the Land Use Map would take place there was no indication that I could find on the web site of the specific areas of the map under review and recommendation. Since I did see a number of lawyers at the meeting with seemingly specific knowledge of the items under discussion as they affected their clients I am concerned that the general public and those property owners nearby and directly affected are not likewise aware of these staff recommendations prior to these meetings. As you know I have spent considerable time in this update process, reviewing documents, making comments and following up with staff and others in my CAC to ensure they are aware of the opportunities to input to the process. However, I do not believe that any member of the general public was made aware of the agenda details that were behind the CP-1-09 agenda item as published on the city's web site. If such detail is available I have not been able to locate it. Since each of these items are important to all concerned I would appreciate having a copy of the specific items to be discussed published on the web site. I know it is a monumental task to have you advise all affected property owners of these recommendations and yet I think it is important that there be a completely open and transparent process in which at least those who have provided comment concerning the affected area as well as the CAC Chair be notified when their item of interest is to be addressed within a Planning Commission or Council Committee. At least the agenda and the detailed list of items to be discussed need to be available in e-mail notifications or on the city's web site. It was more by accident than good planning that I happened to attend the PC COW meeting yesterday. I thought it was merely to map out the work program and discuss how the various recommendations would be discussed and the process approved. It was obvious that other people at the meeting knew that there was a long list of specific recommendations that were to be discussed and decisions made. I can find no reference in any information available to the general public informing us of that process or the items addressed. Please keep all interested parties informed of the details so we can be certain every opportunity for feedback on these recommendations is provided to the general public. Sincerely, Paul paulbrant(a)mindspring.com <mailto:paulbrant@mindspring.com>