Ex-Commissioner and Her Removal

I am writing this memorandum to respond to your inquiries concerning my removal from the Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission.

As a commissioner, I have always investigated each project very thoroughly. I have considered the long-range effect on the community (and) so have at times requested additional information from the staff. If this is being overzealous and threatening to Councilwoman (Jacki) Bacharach, then I wonder what she is trying to hide?

When an applicant or developer presents his project before the Planning Commission, he presents it in the most favorable manner possible. This is good business and, after all, he does want his project approved. However, I feel that it is the commissioner’s responsibility to analyze the project in depth to make sure that the needs of the applicant, the city and its General Plan are preserved.

Councilwoman Bacharach will no doubt say that it is the job of the staff to work out the technicalities and make the recommendations to the Planning Commission. If commissioners are overzealous when they suggest changes or scaling down a project, then what is the purpose of a Planning Commission?

LUELLA L. WIKE

Rancho Palos Verdes