HR County Planning Commission Appointments
Engage the Gorge
Published · January 19 at 10:45 PM ·
Two new Hood River Planning Commission appointments were made at tonight's HR County Board of Commissioners meeting. Applicants were Larry Martin, Erick Von Lubken (currently on Planning Commission, & serving since 2009), Paul Henke, and Jay Lyman.
Questions posed to the candidates included their thoughts on property rights, qualifications, and land use issues. Candidate Larry Martin faced questions about his past role with Thrive Hood River, Martin's statement that one of his goals is to "preserve farmland" was mentioned in later discussions as indicating a preconceived stance on land use, and some commissioners mentioned Thrive's frequent opposition to the County as another concern around Martin's candidacy. Other points raised were the importance of having planning commissioners who didn't have an extreme viewpoint in any particular direction.
Planning commission spots are, like other committee roles in both city and county, appointed positions, and the Board is free to consider candidates' positions on housing or land use.
Final outcome? Erick Von Lubken and Jay Lyman got the nod to fill roles that had been vacated by prior commissioners' resignations. The county will not fill the District 1 spot at this time, but seek out new candidates. Anyone interested? The county is looking for diversity for the role.
http://hrccd.co.hood-river.or.us/depa.../planning-commission
Other appointments:
- Ed Weathers and Ron Rivers to the budget committee. Chris Roebuck withdrew her application, and apparently Rich McBride said today he wanted to join the budget committee, so he was appointed as well.
We don't recall where the county landed on the hiker/runner representatives to the Forest Trails committee, but both Erin O'Connell and Chris Roebuck spoke eloquently about their interest in forest trails and county recreation.
District Attorney Carrie Rasmussen will be the HR County representative to the Mid-Columbia Center for Living Budget Committee.