Commission weighs new master‑development plan triggers, quasi‑judicial review

Staff told commissioners that the updated master‑development plan (MDP) process would be used to evaluate whether a proposed project can be served by city infrastructure and to limit review to objective standards. "Master development plan should actually be a quasi judicial application, not legislative," the staff member said, and staff explained appeals for quasi‑judicial actions go to the courts rather than back to city council.

The draft retains a minor‑expansion exception allowing lawfully existing facilities to expand up to 10% without triggering a full MDP. Staff emphasized MDP review focuses on practical impacts — roads, utilities, and buffering — and not on whether commissioners approve of the underlying use. Commissioners discussed procedural details (concurrent applications, expiration and extension rules) and asked staff to clarify material‑change definitions and expiration/extension language for draft #2.