Streamlining the master plan process

When Edgewood Co. Chief Executive Officer Brad Nelson discussed providing more time for the master plan process, we're not sure what he had in mind.

On Tuesday, Douglas County planning commissioners elected to return to the practice of hearing master plan amendments twice a year. County staff - which recommended four opportunities a year to submit master plan amendments - argued there wouldn't be the pressure to try and ram an incomplete application through.

With only a half-dozen single family home building permits pulled in the entire month of July, now is the best time to experiment with the timing of master plan amendments.

It is the county's contention that having extra opportunities to consider amendments might actually reduce the number at any given meeting.

The decision whether to approve or deny requests still rests with the county, no matter how many applications are submitted.

We believe amending the master plan should be difficult. Not impossible, but hard enough to encourage someone to think through their proposal before bringing it before the public.

The county doesn't have an obligation to grant a property owner higher density on their land than when it was purchased.

But it does have an obligation to hear property owners who desire a master plan amendment. Perhaps having more opportunities will streamline the process.

Attendees at Tuesday's planning commission meeting seemed satisfied at two cycles instead of four.

The decision to double the number of cycles still must be submitted to Douglas County commissioners for final approval.