RISON - The Rison City Council unanimously approved Mayor Charles Roberts’ request Tuesday night to organize a planning commission that will look at ways to develop the city for residential, commercial and industrial growth.
Roberts originally had asked the city council to consider the idea during its February meeting. He brought the subject up again during Tuesday night’s regular monthly meeting, and the council unanimously approved a motion by Councilman Rodney Reed’s to organize a planning commission.
The mayor suggested having a five-member commission, with the possibility of going to six if the council desired it.
Under the plan laid out by Roberts, the mayor would appoint one person from each of the city’s three wards to serve on the commission. He asked the two council members that represent each one of those wards to nominate someone to fill those roles. The other two positions would be at-large members elected by the full council.
In an ideal situation, Roberts said he preferred that each of the commissioners be a resident of the city.
Roberts also noted during the meeting that each of the commission members would serve on the board at the mayor’s pleasure.
Generally, a city planning commission looks at overall plans as to how the land within a city is utilized for residential, commercial and industrial uses.
A planning commission works differently from a zoning commission, which the City of Rison already has. The zoning commission addresses issues related to whether the use of a property falls within the city’s zoning ordinance. The planning commission maps out how property is used now and in the future.
After the council had approved the formation of a planning commission, Roberts addressed another subject related to planning that he brought up at the February meeting: tiny homes.
Roberts said he wants to make Rison a “tiny house friendly”...
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