LPA Nixes Map Changes

The Local Planning Agency (LPA) recommended against or took no position on four applications for small-scale amendments to the city's land use map at its meeting Wednesday night. Each applicant claimed the "Conservation" map designation colored green on the map was applied to part or all their properties by mistake at the time the plan was adopted in 1990. Each applicant sought to change the map designation to "Residential" to allow them to construct homes on the parcels.

The disappointed applicants were the Meades (motions to recommend for and against approval died for lack of a second), the Bucks (motion to approve received a 2-2 tie vote, meaning it goes to the city with a negative recommendation), the Sensenigs (4-1 against approval) and the city itself (3-2 against approval) for some lots in Henry Brown Estates.

The way some coastal land is colored on the map has been before both the LPA and the city commission several times over the last two years. Wednesday night, some witnesses said the coloring is a 15-year-old "scrivener's error" which should be corrected without further study; others said the city should study each amendment carefully, or await the pending revision to the plan as a whole.

The recommendations, which included a favorable recommendation on a change sought for the Cemetery Point Park, may be taken up by the city commission on July 19.