New Petaluma planning commission reflects slow-growth politics

<p>A new Planning Commission was chosen Monday by the Petaluma City Council after it had dissolved the previous panel last month in a controversial consolidation move.</p><p>The selection of new commissioners was split almost entirely along political lines, with the slow-growth majority appointing five of six candidates. An incumbent commissioner was selected by unanimous vote.</p><p>Terms ranged from one to four years to stagger future appointments. The first meeting of the new commission is scheduled for Aug. 11.</p><p>Those appointed from a field of 17 incumbents and new candidates included freelance artist Melissa Abercrombie, real estate appraiser and former design review committee member Dennis Elias and green developer Curtis Johansen. All will serve four years.</p><p>Environmental consultant Jennifer Pierre was chosen for a three-year term and state parks employee Marianne Hurley was picked for a two-year spot.</p><p>The five were selected by a 4-3 vote with Councilmen Mike Healy, David Rabbitt and Mike Harris dissenting.</p><p>Land-use lawyer and former commissioner Christopher Arras was selected for a one-year term. Arras’ appointment was the only one by unanimous vote.</p><p>Councilwoman Teresa Barrett, a member of the slow-growth majority, will again serve as the seventh member of the commission.</p><p>The selection took about 45 minutes. All commissioners are residents of the west side of Petaluma, as are all members of the city council. </p><p>The planning commission and design review panels were disbanded by the majority last month in the name of streamlining and reconstituted as a single group. Minority members said the change was a power ploy by the new majority to remove members before their terms expired.</p>