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Opinion: Review of March 9 Planning Commission meeting

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By Elizabeth Jordan

Monday, March 15, 2010

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The Flint Planning Commission March 9 approved site plans for the expansion of McLaren Cancer Center at G4100 Beecher Rd. It also discussed items related to the   master planning process, met the new director of the Community and Economic Development Department and discussed working with the administration with the city administrator.

McLaren sought approval for a 3,500 square-foot expansion to include a linear accelerator that delivers a proton beam as part of cancer therapy. The applicant noted that the design called for increasing the amount of green space around the facility. The site plan was approved unanimously.

Sheree Pierce, the staff person for the commission, said a doctorial candidate was hoping to talk with members of the planning commission in Flint (as well as people from other communities) as part of her research about urban agriculture. There was a little discussion about ensuring that any commissioners interviewed would be speaking for themselves and not the group.

The commission received a memo from the legal department saying that Commissioner Patrick Ryals' job with the city did not fit the legal category of  "employee," and therefore he is able to continue serving on the commission.

City Administrator Gregory Eason introduced Wendy Johnson, the new Community and Economic Development director, and noted that she had background in foundations.

Eason then addressed several points.

He said that rumors in the community that master planning is underway have not come from the administration or the mayor. They have contacted groups that were incorrectly suggesting that the city or other groups were in the process of master planning and asked them to stop.

The administration is committed to working with the commission on the master plan, he said, then elaborated on how the administration envisions the relationship:

• No organizational chart will be available to share until after Flint City Council approves departmental changes.
• The departmental restructuring would mean that Community and Economic Development would have a community development administrator, economic development administrator and housing administrator (that would include work on the Smith Village, Flint Park Lake, and East Side areas).
• Most community district councils have their own master plans for their specific area. The intention would be to consolidate those into a larger master plan.
• The Community and Economic Development Department would also include a planning division, headed by Sheree Pierce. The administration foresees her and the other administrators within the department as technicians to assist with master planning.
• There is no intent to exclude the commission. The administration (represented by Eason and Johnson) wants to sit with city council (represented by the president) and planning commission (represented by Sheree Pierce) to get on the same page about roles and responsibilities. The administration has not brought any outside partners into the discussion yet, and would not do so until after things are clarified between the three internal city groups. At that point, others might be approached to work on a proposal to local funders for a master planning process.

Then, commissioners had an exchange with Eason.

• Commissioner Jerri Howell asked why are all the neighborhoods not involved (referring to naming Smith Village, East Side and Flint Park Lake in particular). Eason answered that the administration wanted to take advantage of the established infrastructure of neighborhood associations and community district councils and then build from there. Eventually a master plan would include all neighborhoods.
• Commissioners Freeman Greer and Robert Jewell pointed out that one of the terms used by Eason to talk about plans that those neighborhoods have on file a "master plan" actually refers to the citywide comprehensive master plan. So, more accurately, the other plans could be called neighborhood plans. Eason said he appreciated that clarification and would use that term in the future.

• Commissioner Jewell sought more information about the staff position that had been twice advertised as a planner, in relationship to the Charter's description of a chief planning officer, which may or may not be the same person as the staff position. Eason said he welcomes the input of the commission in the process of hiring a city planner to work with Pierce. In the future they hope to be able to have administrative staff work with her in the department.
• I shared a few comments going back to what Eason said about wanting to bring in other partners after the city council, planning commission and administration are on the same page in preparation for submitting a master planning funding request. I said that it was important to me that community activists, facilitators, residents and other non-institutional Flint stakeholders be part of that step. People with official titles are assured of their seat at the table. I want to be sure people with on-the-ground experience and insight have their place at the table too. Eason said it was important to him and the mayor too and pledged that this would be so.
• Commissioner Jewell noted he thought that it was important to separate the administrative role of Pierce from the planning commission in conversations between the commission, city council, and the administration. Having our chairperson be our representative would enable us to participate on par with the other two bodies. Eason agreed and said nothing would move forward until they have the commission's blessing and that our chairperson would have a significant role.
• Commissioner Greer asked whether the administration planned to try to do the master planning process with internal resources or would they engage an outside consultant? Eason said that consultants will be needed. Local foundations would need to be approached to get the necessary funds to pay for them.
• Commissioner David Jackson asked how the administration would reach out to neighborhoods that are currently not as organized or vocal as Metawanenee Hills, for example. Eason responded that reaching out to other neighborhoods will require more resources, and that the planning commission will be involved in developing a strategy to do that. (Incidentally, this is part of the reason I think it is critical to have activists, residents and facilitators be part of any team that designs a funding proposal. A funding proposal would have to outline and budget for the actual engagement process, and who knows better how to reach deep into the community than the people who are already on the ground doing that?)

Chairperson Wesley provided an update to the commission's previous question on the status of funding requests to Ruth Mott and C.S. Mott foundations for master planning preparations, which had been submitted by interim mayor Mike Brown. He said those requests were off the table.

There was a motion that in the future, we would move the standing master planning initiative from old business to reports. This passed without objection.

Commissioner Jewell shared that the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Report (CEDS) steering committee had met Feb. 25 to review the public comments submitted. There had been some modifications to the CEDS document based on the feedback, and all comments would be included in the final official package. City council members and county commissioners had voted unanimously to approve the CEDS document, which will be submitted at the end of the month. The document will be available at the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission web site. The next steering committee meeting is tentatively set at 2 p.m. March 23 at the Mott Foundation.

The next meeting of the commission will likely be canceled because now there are no site plan reviews, public hearings or other business on the agenda.

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Elizabeth Jordan is a lifelong Flint resident who represents the 9th Ward on the Flint Planning Commission.  In addition to working in the nonprofit sector, she is involved with various community initiatives promoting social justice and peace.

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