"The Planning
& Zoning Department is responsible for outdoor advertising, planning, subdivision
review, zoning, and a host of related topics for the Town. The
Christiansburg Planning Commission is comprised of seven voting members
and a non-voting secretary. The Planning commission meets as needed. The
Planning Department is staffed by a Planning Director and a Town
Planner. The Planning Director serves as Zoning Administrator and the
Town Manager serves as Subdivision Agent for the Town of
Christiansburg." (From the Town of Christiansburg website.)
There is an organization known as : VAZO: Virginia Association of Zoning Officials that was started in 1990. It serves as one of the foremost resources for all things zoning related. Here is an excerpt from the organization's bylaws, ARTICLE 2 PURPOSE:
"The fundamental purpose of this Association shall be to:
(A) Promote the interest and welfare of the zoning administration and enforcement agencies whose staff comprise its membership and to promote a closer, more informed relationship among those engaged in the profession of zoning code administration and enforcement;
(B) Transmit in an organized and coordinated manner to local and state government or other appropriate agencies the desires of its members on matters relating to codes and regulations governing zoning administration and enforcement;
(C) Encourage and promote ethical administration and enforcement of land use laws."
Among a wealth of other resources, this agency
offers training and certification that I feel should be mandatory for any Zoning Official:- The Certified Zoning Official (CZO) designation
is awarded to persons who receive a passing grade on an exam module
concerned with the legal aspects of zoning and the technical aspects
of zoning and zoning practices.
- The Certified Zoning Administrator (CZA) designation is
awarded to persons who successfully pass the aforementioned CZO exam
modules as well as an exam module concerned with management practices.
These are not free but at $75 and $100 respectively, if the knowledge gained prevents even one lawsuit, it would seem that it would be a worthwhile investment of Town funds to make sure the zoning administrator is certified. Given the map of
participating Counties and the list of contacts, Christiansburg's lack of affiliation is clearly seen.
For the casual user like myself, I found that the VAZO website has some valuable information. In particular, the
Legislative News link takes you to listings of many of the legal changes that impact zoning and planning. There is also a great
OPEN FORUM that citizens and officials can access to see some of the issues zoning officials deal with and to get an idea of how other people have dealt with the situation. (You regular readers know that I am a strong proponent for that "let's not recreate the wheel" concept. If someone else has already done it, and you can get information on the costs and benefits to doing something from a reliable source, you can use that information to apply in your own situation in an efficient and effective manner.)
One very interesting thing I found in the OPEN FORUM is:
"Purcellville is in the process of amending its landscaping regulations.
One of the suggestions we have gotten from our tree experts is to
require an 18 month warranty on the vegetation, because most vegetation
deaths occur between 12 and 18 months. We're wondering if other
localities require 18 month warranties and what the experience is with
the 18 month warranties. Would you recommend a requirement for an 18
month warranty or instead lengthening the maintenance bond from 12
months to 18 months?"
One of the many part-time jobs I've held over the years was merchandising plants locally for a major greenhouse. The 18 month warrant would be an excellent plan to protect investments. Based upon my experiences, it is more likely the plantings will die between 12 and 18 months. That is exactly why most places that sell plants have a 12 month warranty. It is the same principal that you often see when anything you have with a warranty breaks down just after the warranty expires. (And you thought it was just Murphy's Law! Nope, it's business and investing the least to get the most.)
Okay, back on topic. The bottom line is that the Zoning Administrator for the Town of Christiansburg should be certified. Planning and Zoning are specialized jobs that requires both initial and ongoing training in order to stay current on the latest changes in laws pertaining to zoning, best practices in the professions, and a willingness to use all available resources to best meet the communities needs.
It boils down to do you want the person making decisions that have a long-term impact on your life to be a general practitioner or a specialist. And, if it is a specialist, do you want a proctologist if you have a heart condition? No, training requirements should be specific and address relevant issues. The citizens of Christiansburg deserve to have the best trained staff in making these decisions.
Maybe it is just me, but I think it is as important to prepare for the future of a community as it is for an individual or family. Financial security is important to everyone, but not everyone takes into account the importance of how your community develops over time affects how you will live your life in 10, 20, 30, or more years from now. I believe it is important enough to make sure that we have a certified zoning administrator. Guess tomorrow, I will have to call and ask about that:)
More to come.............