Public commenters press commission on development fees, abandoned properties and homelessness

During the zoning hearing public-comment periods, several speakers urged county action on issues ranging from abandoned residential properties to developer impact fees and potential trucking facilities near rural neighborhoods.

Margaret Ann Coleman said squatters had occupied her rented home and asked the county to act to preserve her property and ensure she receives a check she said she had been awaiting. Commissioners cut the comment short after she did not identify an agenda item.

Mike Cozar criticized the county's past practice on public facilities and amenities (PFA) fees, saying current fees for parks and other infrastructure do not match per-unit funding needs. Cozar warned that the county may have large, unfunded park obligations and urged commissioners to reconsider fee levels so residents do not subsidize infrastructure for new development.

Tom Shelton, a Sunrise Manor resident, said he is concerned about several operations seeking waivers that could bring about a large number of commercial vehicles to the edge of his rural-preservation neighborhood and urged more traffic and impact study requirements before approvals. Shelton asked the commission to engage with staff and the commissioner's office on the matter.

At the end of the meeting, neighborhood organizer Al Rojas described cleanup efforts in multiple East-side neighborhoods and urged residents to create neighborhood-watch groups and use county reporting tools to maintain recently cleared sites.

The commission did not take formal action on issues raised during public comment but accepted the statements into the record and, in several cases, directed staff to follow up with residents about enforcement and mitigation options.