Planning Commission Appointment of Jessica Farr

This discussion topic was requested by Council Member Ginny Welsch regarding the proposed Planning Commission appointment of Jessica Farr.

From CM Welsch:

Colleagues-

On the agenda for our April 7 meeting is the vote to reappoint Jessica Farr to the Planning Commission. I am asking that you vote against her reappointment. I believe that Ms. Farr has a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of council in the rezoning process and as such, should not continue to serve as a commissioner.

As you may remember, last year I had two pieces of legislation to upzone a large swath of my district, a rezoning and a companion UDO. Both went in front of the Commission on April 24, 2025, and that meeting is linked here. My legislation was disapproved by the Commission, not on its merits, which were not discussed at all, but on Ms. Farr’s objection to my process in bringing the legislation forward.

It is Farr’s contention that the Planning Department must be involved in rezones like mine and I did not involve Planning enough. This was despite the fact that I met with Planning several times, and a modified version of my legislation was approved by the Planning staff. And that I specially asked the Commission for approval of the modified version if they did not want to do approve my legislation as submitted.

Under the charter, zoning is 100% within the purview of the Metro Council. Per Metro, the Planning Department “provides design guidance, reviews zoning and subdivision applications, and shapes public policy related to growth, preservation, and development. The Planning Department also provides recommendations to the Planning Commission.”

The Planning Department recommended a modified version of my legislation be approved by the Commission, and that was circumvented by Ms. Farr based on her personal beliefs. She even asked a Planning representative to detail how Planning has been involved in other large upzones. But neither I nor anyone on this council must do things the way other council members have done them in the past. The entire exercise was a farce.

I for one am tired of individuals treating the council as an afterthought and not acknowledging the inherent power our position bestows. We are not there to rubberstamp, nor are we there to beg permission. And it is time that we demand this stop.

As you see in this clip, Ms. Farr clearly states she supports what I’m trying to do, agrees that her mentor Cathy Dodd of the Woodbine Community Organization would have supported my efforts, but because she disagreed with my process, she wouldn’t support the legislation. Ms. Farr showed she lacks a full understanding of the proper role of council in managing district zoning. And for that reason, I ask that you vote no on her reappointment to the Planning Commission.