Planning Commission submits feedback on CodeNEXT first draft

About a month after the original deadline, the Planning Commission voted Tuesday to finalize a letter of recommendation to City Council in response to the first version of CodeNEXT produced by city staff and consultants. In accordance with a resolution passed by Council last month, the commission will submit another letter in January after reviewing the new land use code’s second iteration. Some commissioners, like Chito Vela, still had reservations about giving feedback at this stage of the process. “I feel like this thing is increasingly turning into an academic exercise,” he said. “I’d rather have something substantive to actually grapple with.” Chair Stephen Oliver encouraged Vela and the rest of the commission to power through, as confusing as it is to engage with a constantly changing document. “Every piece of the process is as valuable as the part before it,” he said. Commissioner Trinity White motioned to approve the letter, seconded by Vice Chair Fayez Kazi. The motion passed 9-0-3, with Vela and commissioners Karen McGraw and Angela De Hoyos Hart abstaining.