There was an interesting discussion at the Board of Estimates yesterday about why they approve neighborhood plans and it revealed some interesting information about how the alders and Mayor viewed neighborhood plans. Alder Bradon kicked off the discussion by saying that the plans are usually a hundred pages long and not many people read them and that they should probably get a presentation when they come to the Board of Estimates. Staff were there with their boards and ready to do the presentation, but it turned out the Board of Estimates didn’t really didn’t want the presentation after all.
Alder Brandon was also concerned that for some plans like the Villager and Allied Drive we look at things in great detail and for other plans, we just approve them without much discussion. Staff politely explained to them the difference between a project plan of the CDA that we are paying for and a neighborhood plan.
The next issue discussed was whether they should “accept” or “adopt” the plans. I thought this was also “asked and answered”. Zach said there was no difference. Apparently he never read the memo from the City Attorney telling us the difference.
Then Alder Jed Sanborn piped up and offered his opinion that neighborhood plans are just advisory. That wasn’t really a surprise given his philosophical and political leanings. What was somewhat shocking was that the Mayor then also agreed that neighborhood plans were advisory. I think my jaw hit the floor.
Thankfully, Alder Clear spoke up and reminded folks that our neighborhood plans are supplements to the Comprehensive Plan and that they in fact, are much more than advisory and that we had to adopt them or reject them. Then a few others nodded their heads around the table and that was the end of the discussion and the Regent Street plan was adopted. What a bizarre conversation.
