County mulls reduction of planning commission

Number of seats on the Whitman County’s planning commission could be cut because not enough residents have volunteered to serve on the panel.

County commissioners are considering reducing the panel from a nine-member board to seven members. The commission, which sets county policy on land use matters, currently has two vacancies plus a seat held by Pete Hertz of Palouse that is not occupied while Hertz deals with illness.

Planner Alan Thomson told commissioners Monday those numbers have made it difficult for the commission to field enough members for a quorum.

“I think the planning commission is far more effective with nine people. But, it’s been hard to get people that are willing to serve,” said Commissioner Greg Partch.

In recent years, the planning commission has dealt with a number of controversial issues, including zoning laws for wind farms, housing in the agricultural zone and development rules for the Pullman-Moscow Corridor.

Commissioner Michael Largent was in favor of a reduction.

“I still haven’t heard the negatives,” he said.

Thomson said planning commissioners’ reaction to the reduction proposal have been mixed, some saying the larger number gives the panel more expertise and a larger field of citizens from across the county.

Partch said a smaller panel would likely wind up with more representatives from Pullman.

As it stands now, the commission is comprised of three citizens from each of the three county commission districts. The smaller plan would have two from each district with one at-large commissioners.

“I think the more people you have... you’ll come out with a much better product in the end,” said Commissioner Pat O’Neill.

In the end, commissioners followed the suggestion of Public Works Director Mark Storey that they run advertisements to recruit planning commission members.

If those ads fail to bring in more volunteers, commissioners will then consider reducing the panel to seven members.