Cortez canceled Tuesday’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting after an absence and two vacancies left the panel without a required quorum.
The commission – which typically consists of five members – is down to three, meaning that if any member is unable to attend the meeting, it is canceled. The city is advertising two open positions.
“We’re just down to a critical number,” said City Planner and Interim Director of Community and Economic Development Jason Armstrong, who helps run the meetings. “We need more members as soon as possible.”
The Planning and Zoning Commission makes recommendations to the City Council on planning and zoning matters. It also reviews and decides on applications related to the land use code and develops the comprehensive plan for the city’s growth. Anyone 18 or older who lives within Cortez city limits may apply.
“You don’t have to be familiar with the land use code to be on the Planning and Zoning Commission,” Armstrong said. “You will gain that knowledge along the way.”
Richard Fryhover, a current member of the commission, grew up in Cortez and became a real estate agent in the area. He joined because of his passion for affordable housing and his desire to make the city a less expensive place for the next generation of renters and homeowners.
“I know a lot about the town and I want to see it continue to grow and develop,” Fryhover said.
He added that the only requirement he sees for members of the commission is a desire to support the community.
“We need good people to come and join us,” Fryhover said.
Armstrong highlighted the opportunity to be involved in community development in Cortez.
“You get to learn a lot about what’s going on in the community,” Armstrong said. “You get to feel like you’re making some tangible impacts on the future of the community.”
The benefit of appointing community members rather than government officials or career politicians to the commission is the on-the-ground perspective they can provide to the City Council, according to Fryhover.
“They (City Council members) get a better feel for what the community wants because – as Planning and Zoning – we come from the community,” Fryhover said.
The two vacant positions require appointed members to serve until May or June 2027. Members earn $25 per required monthly meeting and receive $75 in credit to use at city-run facilities such as the golf course or the recreation center.
Individuals interested in the application and appointment process, as well as the full list of the commission’s responsibilities, can contact Armstrong at (970) 564-4098 or jarmstrong@cortezco.gov
Applicants may complete the form on the boards and commissions page of the city’s website. The city will conduct a background check, and City Council will interview candidates and decide whether to appoint them. As of Monday, Armstrong said, there were no active applications for the two vacancies.
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