It may be time for Avon Park to have its own city planner.
Recently, tension between citizens, city staff and the county's planning department, who is contracted to handle the city's planning, showed that deciding how a city develops should be handled by someone intimate with the community. Someone vested in how the city grows.
With three CRA's, historical properties, a municipal airport, state and Federal properties all in and around the City of Charm, development and redevelopment can create very unique questions from property owners. In the recent case, a business owner's plans are put on hold because it was not clear what were the proper rules that effected parking for apartments.
Although county staff is certainly competent, this recent incident frustrated both the landowner and city staff. That is apparent by the e-mails and public banter, but it just points out fact that a community's planning effects lives in a personal way. A small mistake can cause delays and problems with future development and cost a developer thousands of dollars.
Since design is one of the four legs used to judge the success of a community, it definantly warrants care and close attention. Only possible with an in-house staffer.
The city already pays $20,000 a year for the service to the county; it takes very little, and would be simple to put the work out for bid to see what can done. We encourage the city leaders to a take a close look at retaining a planner for the Avon Park, and help retain the title City of Charm.
Sunday, January 13, 2013 - www.newssun.com/011313-edt