How advisory board members are appointed, and for how long they serve, may change following a discussion about the continuity of the Highlands planning board and the zoning board on Thursday night.
Town planner Michael Mathis presented a draft of some changes to the current planning board and zoning board policies during the monthly workshop of the board of commissioners.
“This board has discussed in the past having the planning board consist of seven members, five who live inside town limits, and two who live in Highlands Township but not necessarily in town limits,” Mathis said. “This policy change would formalize that as well as set up how planning board and zoning board term limits are handled.”
Commissioner Jeff Weller advocated for 3-year terms on both the planning and zoning boards, and advised that the terms be staggered so not every member is up for reappointment at the same time.
Currently, planning board members serve one-year terms.
“Several years ago we went to one-year terms because we had an issues with people wanting to be on the planning board, getting appointed, and then not necessarily taking it seriously, missing a lot of meetings, etc.,” commissioner Eric Pierson said. “As long as there is a policy in place to handle absences I am okay with three-year terms.”
Mathis noted that the policy does account got absences and if any planning board members misses three consecutive meetings, or four meetings in a 12-month span, that member can be removed and subsequently replaced on the board.
Weekend work hours
Also during the workshop, the board of commissioners took up a discussion regarding the town’s weekend work policy as it relates to the noise ordinance.
The board decided to allow commercial work such as construction, landscaping, etc., from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Such work would be allowed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and prohibited on Sunday in the new policy.
Those proposed changes will be brought up for approval during the April board of commissioners meeting.
“I understand people come up from a loud city, and they want some peace and quiet in Highlands,” commissioner Amy Patterson said. “But at the same time, we have to allow people to work on projects during the weekend. I do agree that loud projects should not be permitted on Sundays.”
Mathis noted that commercial work can still be done on Sundays, as long as it isn’t considered a nuisance, or violate the current noise ordinance.
“If there is work to be done like painting, laying carpet, things like that can be done without violating the noise ordinance then so be it,” Mathis said. “What this would prohibit is commercial work that is above the noise ordinance.”
Commissioner Buz Dotson asked how the town defines “commercial” activity and if the policy would prohibit homeowners from working on their own properties.