Land Use Control Plan Hearing Set For Feb. 1

f ■; - S A dfsputed "promise" and continued citizen opposition prompted the City Planning Commission to delay action on a controversial subdivisión and land use control ordinance last night. Citizens opposed to the ordinance as it now stands told the commission it had promised - at its Oct. 26 meeting - to hold a working committee meeting with the public prior to taking final action on the document. That meeting was never held. Commissioners questioned whether such a work session was ever promised, claiming there was some confusión and that the promised meeting was actually one of the procedures committee. But the commission decided to hold the work session anyway, and scheduled it for Feb. 1. It also stated it would take final action on the longpending proposal at its Feb. 8 I meeting. The major citizencommission conflict remains ' the issue of public hearings on area and site plans. Citizens are insisting that the subdivisión control ordinance contain specific language calling for such hearings, while the Planning Department is adament in its stand that such hearings are unnecessary. Commissioners note that the procedures of the commission cali for a public hearing on area plans at the same time a hearing is held on proposed I zonings. There is, however, no procedure established for hearings on site plans. Elizabeth Leonard, speaking on behalf of the League of Women Voters, also noted that the proposed ordinance has no provisions to insure that the public has access to site and area plans and said her group is insisting that this also be made part of the ordinance. Noting that the Planning Department staff based its opposition in part to the inefficiency that arises out of numerous public hearings, Mrs. Leonard said, "Inefficiency has always been a built-in bugbear of democratie government. But how much of our right to govern ourselves are we willing to give up for the sake of efficiency?" Mrs. Jean King and Dr. Theodore Beals, who have been fighting long against the proposed ordinance as recommended by the department, presented 15 pages of proposed amendments to the document - including provisions for public hearings and public information. Noting that the Planning Commission makes land-use decisions affecting all citizens, Mrs. King said, "To refuse to seek out, to refuse to listen to, and to refuse to take into thoughtful account public expressions of opinión is tantamount to claiming a degree of wisdom and foresight givenl to few human beings." I