EMPAC had a significant win at last night’s Edgewood Appeal Hearing. As most of you know, we had appealed the Sep 29 Edgewood Planning & Zoning (P&Z) Commission’s decision to approve the amendments to the 2002 Campbell Ranch Master plan (which is still for the same development involved in the Aquifer Science case).
There were over 120 members of the community attending the hearing in person (some sitting on the floor), and over 130 by phone and Go-to-Meeting.
Nearly 40 attendees spoke, with not one of them being in favor of the project. By far, the most prominent concern was the damage to our already declining water supply. Representatives from Campbell Farming Corporation attended as well – standing silently at the back of the room.
We were prepared to testify, to examine and to be cross-examined by Campbell Farming and the Edgewood Town Commissioners. This proved to be unnecessary as the town attorney told the Commissioners at the beginning of the hearing that they had three choices:
- Vacate the hearing (postpone).
- Remand to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- Remand to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a complete ‘do-over’.
This was all based on several Open Meetings complaints to the Attorney General (AG) from the East Mountain community – regarding the way the P&Z conducted the September hearings on the Campbell Ranch amendment. The AG also told Edgewood they needed to re-vote the decision to approve the amendments since they had been approved in an illegal meeting.
Outcome:
The Town Commissioners voted unanimously for option 3, “Remand to P&Z for a do over.”
As a result, another P&Z hearing is to take place within 45 days to initiate the do-over.
We are appreciative that the AG accelerated a response to the Edgewood town attorney concerning their Open Meetings Act transgressions. The timing was perfect as it occurred prior to last night’s meeting.