Haslet planning commission creates two-member city planning subcommittee

The Haslet Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday voted to create a two-member city planning subcommittee and named Commissioners Matt Hayes and Paul Wallach to the group, after a workshop presentation by Mayor Halsey about the commission's duties and a range of long-term planning topics. The subcommittee will work with city staff and report recommendations back to the full commission at regular meetings.

Mayor Halsey opened the workshop by reviewing the commission's statutory role under the city's ordinance, saying the commission provides "analysis and recommendations to the city council regarding the comprehensive plan and other plans related to land use, thoroughfares, infrastructure, open space, and recreation" and listed 17 considerations the body should weigh, from circulation and public utilities to protection of environmentally sensitive areas. "This is our first step toward that endeavor," Halsey said, urging commissioners to take a broader planning role beyond routine site-plan reviews.

The nut of the discussion was whether a small working group would speed planning projects that are otherwise difficult to advance in a once-monthly meeting. Commissioners described the subcommittee as a working group that would meet outside the regular meeting, coordinate with multiple city departments and bring prioritized recommendations back to the commission. The mayor framed the commission as a "filter" to temper city proposals and said the subcommittee would help the commission work proactively on items such as the land-use plan, thoroughfare map, parks and recreation recommendations and future facility space.

Commissioners asked about scope, time commitment and overlap with other city functions. Commissioner Greg asked whether creation of a city administrator would change the commission's work and whether a new administrator could "usurp the responsibilities of the mayor." Mayor Halsey responded that the commission's roles and responsibilities are independent of the form of city administration and that the subcommittee would help set and refine priorities. Commissioners also discussed meeting times; staff said many coordination meetings with departments would likely occur during the day, and the mayor estimated a realistic time commitment of "a couple hours a week." The commission noted that reading and staff-prepared materials should reduce the need for repetitive staff briefings.

A motion to establish the subcommittee and appoint Commissioners Matt Hayes and Paul Wallach passed; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The commission recorded that membership can change over time and that Commissioner Miss Nnedeker indicated she would step in as an alternate if either appointee could not continue. The subcommittee is to report its work to the full Planning and Zoning Commission, and the commission agreed to include a standing workshop category on future agendas for topics such as the zoning map and thoroughfare plan.

Commissioners were told staff expects two sizable zoning cases on the commission's agenda next month. Commissioners and the mayor emphasized that the subcommittee is intended to enable more continuous work between monthly meetings so the body can proactively align ordinances, the land use plan and zoning decisions with how the city is developing. The full commission did not take action beyond forming the subcommittee and naming initial members; no changes to ordinances or plans were adopted at the meeting.