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03/23/2005: "Tom Cowan Objects To Permit Center Sign"

Tom Cowan and Planner Lee Mcenery

Tom Cowan, former County Commissioner from Lopez, came before the Planning Commission with an application for an open space application on 18 acres of a 40 acres parcel that was purchased in 2000. Mr. Cowan hoped to have the recommendation by the Permit Center to approve the application be accepted by the commission which would, in the words of Lee Mcenery, Senior Planner, result in "a tax shift of about a $1000.00" in favor of the Cowans'.

While Mr.Cowan stated that he "Praised the department, and agreed with their recommendations" he did however volunteer that it bothered him that "I was required to post a sign at the entrance to our property, the title is Proposed Development" He stated that "the whole reason we got into the open space plan is because we do not want to develop out property…we want to do proper stewardship with the timber open space". He again stated "I did not like posting that sign of Proposed Development." He then suggest that the sign be changed to read Notice of Public Hearing".

After the Commissioners approved by unanimous vote to place the 18 acres into open space, a motion was made to change the signs. This was followed by discussion on what then should be stated on the sign. The discussion came down to Public Process vs. Proposed Development, with some of the members suggesting there should be two signs, one for Development projects and one for non-development projects.

Francine Shaw, Deputy Director pointed out that there is state law regulations that say what the signs must say and how they must be worded. She will provide the Commission with a memo that explains what the law says, and then the commission can use that as a starting point in their review of the signage.