Planning and Zoning moratorium lifted, interim director appointed
Published 9:45 am Thursday, September 22, 2022
The City of Danville and Boyle County Fiscal Court lifted a moratorium that they placed on the joint Danville Boyle County Planning and Zoning Commission at a meeting on Sept. 15.
The moratorium that they placed on Sept. 2 was to be in place for up to 45 days, and it put a pause on all actions of P&Z.
One reason for the moratorium was that some P&Z members had not completed personal financial disclosures. P&Z appointees from the county were previously given the disclosure forms. However, city appointees were not given the forms and did not know they needed to be completed.
Another reason for the moratorium was that with a change in directors, P&Z needed a general review to make sure everything is functioning as well as it could before a new director starts.
A task force was appointed to review the structural integrity of P&Z, its policies and procedures, and to make any changes they deem necessary. The task force is made up of the county judge-executive, mayor of Danville, county administrator, city manager, county attorney and city attorney.
Some changes the task force want to see are:
• Cooperation in the development of a new comprehensive plan with support of third party consultants designated by the governmental bodies.
• Cooperation in the development of text amendments to the zoning ordinance necessary to calibrate the document to the community, and to review administrative practices to support more efficient operations and activities of the agency.
Interim Director
The P&Z commission appointed a new interim director, Gary Chidester, at a special-called meeting Sept. 14. He has been chairman of the P&Z commission in the past.
Since previous director Steve Hunter left, P&Z has not had an interim director, rather it has been members of the commission covering basic duties. Interim director duties will not change, and are limited to basic housekeeping like signing checks.