Residents press council on access to planning documents; city cites OPRA exemptions

Several residents raised concerns that recent changes by the planning and zoning boards curtailed public access to documents and shortened advance notice for hearings. Susan Krakbanner said the changes "are an unnecessary barrier to public participation" and urged council to address the issue with the planning and zoning boards.

A staff speaker explained that architects'drawn floor plans have been treated as exempt from public copying under the state Open Public Records Act (OPRA) for security reasons, that site plans remain available and that redacted copies or in-office review are available when OPRA requires it. The staff speaker said the matter is determined by state law and not a city council ordinance, and encouraged residents to view floor plans at the construction office if they want copies.