This doesn't make sense

Does another layer make sense?

Members of the Portland Planning Commission last week decided to have all plans for subdivisions and commercial and industrial development reviewed by a new committee.

Keep in mind that, number one, those plans are supposed to be reviewed by the Jay/Portland Building and Planning Administrator, the relevant staff person.

And, number two, those plans are supposed to be reviewed by the Planning Commission itself.

That raises the question of why a third step, review by a special committee is necessary.

If the building and planning administrator is doing his job and if members of the Planning Commission aren't simply going through the motions of theirs, a third layer of review makes no sense.

The only purpose it could possibly serve would be to provide an entity for the commission and its staff to shift responsibility to or to provide cover for mistakes.

This is not rocket science.

If the building and planning administrator is doing more than going through the motions and if the members of the Planning Commission are doing their homework rather than opening their information packets for the first time when they arrive at a meeting, another layer of review is both foolish and wasteful. - J.R.



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