Smart Planning

The smart planning bills, HSB 592 and SF 2265, were voted out of the House and Senate Rebuild Iowa Committees this week. The senate version includes the following:

· Establishes 10 smart planning principles that local governments may apply during planning, zoning, development, and resource management decisions.

· Establishes a task force consisting of the Executive Director of ISAC or a designee, and three county representatives appointed by the Governor.

· Directs municipalities, including counties, to consider smart planning principals if the municipality develops or amends a comprehensive plan under Iowa Code chapter 335 (County Zoning) or Iowa Code chapter 414 (City Zoning).

· Allows county and city zoning commissions to recommend a comprehensive plan to the county board of supervisors or the city council.

The house version was amended in committee to strike the language that establishes a task force, and strikes the language that directs municipalities to consider smart planning principals if they develop or amend a comprehensive plan. The house version does not include the provision that allows zoning commissions to recommend a comprehensive plan to the county board of supervisors or city council. ISAC is registered undecided on the bills.

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