Is the Oakley Planning Commission going to be another “fast one?”. Oakley does need a Planning Commission. The City Council has discussed a Planning Commission, with direction for City Staff to design such, but with recommendation responsibilities, without approval authority. The City Council would retain approval responsibilities. Interim City Manager Joshua McMurray is bringing a Planning Commission design before the City Council this Tuesday (Item 5.4). He designates the staff report that all Conditional Use Permits (CUP) and Design Reviews to be decided by the Planning Commission. In addition, approval powers are broadened for the Planning Department. The City Council would have minimal input or approval regarding Planning in Oakley. No appeal process of the Planning Commission’s decisions is mentioned in the staff report, inferring that the Planning Commission would have final decision-making authority.
The way the ordinance reads now is the Planning Commission would be approving the McDonald’s at Laurel Plaza, not the City Council.
It seems like a couple of councilmembers, and City Staff, are “pulling another fast one.”
George Fuller, MPA, MA City Councilmember, City of Oakley
