Holmes Beach Commissioners to Deny Planning Commission's Site Plan Review Role

HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners, following legal advice from City Attorney Erica Augello, plan to deny the planning commission’s request to conduct preliminary reviews of major site plan applications. Augello also recommended that major site plan applications not be discussed during non-quasi-judicial city commission work meetings.

During the January 14 meeting, commissioners and Development Services Director Chad Minor reviewed proposed changes to the city’s site plan application process outlined in Ordinance 25-02. The ordinance was presented for its first reading, with final adoption expected on January 28.

Currently, major site plan applications are subject only to a quasi-judicial public hearing conducted by the city commission. The planning commission had proposed holding public hearings to review site plans for consistency with the city’s comprehensive plan and land development code before the city commission’s review. However, commissioners decided to remove the proposed provision.

Commissioners expressed concerns that involving the planning commission could lead to additional attorney fees and legal complications if site plan denials were appealed. Augello advised that dual reviews could create conflicts in record evidence and potential challenges to city commission decisions.

Despite the planning commission’s disappointment, they acknowledged the city attorney’s concerns and symbolically reinserted the deleted language into the ordinance during their January 15 meeting. They also requested that notices of major site plan applications be posted on the city’s website to ensure public awareness.

In a related move, commissioners approved adding monthly advisory board reports to future meeting agendas to encourage more significant input from city advisory boards.

The final adoption of Ordinance 25-02 is scheduled for the city commission’s second reading on January 28.