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Bravo, Mr. Bailey
Washington Planning Commissioner Mark Bailey was right on target, in our view, when he said that there has got to be a threshhold of trust built into the town’s zoning ordinances.
He was referring to the debate about an amendment to the ordinance to allow commercial buildings to build to a of 45 feet, 10 feet higher than the present limit of 35 feet. The extra height could not be added by right; under the amendment proposed by The Inn at Little Washington a special use permit would be required.
Several planning commissioners questioned the wisdom of the amendment, arguing that, although the Inn’s proposal is relatively modest and within the spirit of the proposed amendment, subsequent applications could stretch not only the spirit but the letter of the ordinance as well.
We appreciate those concerns, but as Mr. Bailey pointed out, that is what the special use process is all about. When the application for a permit is made, the planning commission and town council can express their reservations, if any, about the plan. Restrictions can be attached to the permit which are binding on the applicant.
That is the idea behind the special use permit — it allows certain things which otherwise could not be done — but it .puts the governing body in control of how those restrictions will be relaxed and how much leeway the applicant is given.
Mr. Bailey’s comments during the first debate of the evening, about an amendment to allow off-site parking for commercial uses in a residential area, were also on the monev.
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