Instead of immediately making a decision after a lengthy public hearing, Councilman Wayne Smith led the charge to continue the hearing until February 3 so he and other members of the city's governing panel can individually digest the information given.
This will give council time to wade through facts stated and weed out some of the more not in my backyard sentiments uttered during the meeting.
Taking this approach could go a long way to steering council out of another court battle like the one that arose in 2012 when Roanoke Rapids businessman David King appealed an erroneous decision made by council then. That decision shot down a request for a cell phone tower on the back of his property, a battle that King eventually won.
That hearings like the cell phone tower matter and the apartment complex hearing from Tuesday are held in this setting has the potential to make sure any decision made is one that puts council on solid footing should it be tested in court.
Give credit to Tuesday night's decision to Planning and Development Director Kelly Lasky who has given the planning board and council intense training on what the sanctity of these proceedings mean.
The knowledge gained by planners and council members is not only for the benefit of the developers of projects requiring a CUP, but the residents who speak at these meetings, who deserve their elected officials give their comments fair consideration.
Much legwork is put into these hearings by the planning department before it is even put on a planning board or council agenda, research that answers many questions on whether a proposal fits the city's comprehensive land use plan; is compatible with current uses and won't detract from the harmony of a certain area as well as property values. Those are just a few of the considerations that go into these hearings before it is presented to the planning board and then city council.
While we heard rumblings following the hearing that council's decision to continue it was a poor one, we appreciate the thoughtful manner that Smith suggested the panel take in this issue.
It tells us council is making great strides in showing it understands the complex machinations that go hand-in-hand with quasi-judicial proceedings — Editor
