During the Warren County Board of Supervisors public hearing for the short-term tourist rental Conditional Use Permit at 103 Luchase Road, I spoke briefly about a procedural concern rather than the rental use itself.

My concern was that the staff report available to the public appeared to be for a different property. Earlier that day, I had already reached out about the issue and was told that the Planning Commission had reviewed the correct report and that the Board would also be reviewing the correct report.

That was helpful to know, but it still left a transparency problem. If the Board had access to the correct staff report while the public packet still showed the wrong or incomplete material, then the public was not reviewing the same information as the decision-makers.

This kind of issue may seem small, but staff reports are an important part of public hearings. They help residents understand the application, the conditions, the planning review, and the basis for any recommendation. When the public-facing agenda packet is wrong or missing material, it becomes harder for citizens to prepare meaningful comments.

My request was simple: update the agenda item and board packet so the public can see the same information the Board uses.

Transcript (auto-generated)

Supervisor Cheryl Cullers: Okay, Mr. Henderson, has anyone signed up?

Zachary Henderson: … Lewis Moten

Lewis Moten: [chuckles] Say it.

Hello, supervisors. My name is Lewis Moten from the North River District. My concern with this is really a procedural one. I’ve already reached out earlier today about the staff report, which is still in for a different property today that’s available to the public, and it is still missing from the planning meeting.

I was told that they did review the proper report and that you would be reviewing the proper staff report, but there is something that the public is not seeing that you have access to. So, I would kindly ask that you update the agenda items for the board packets.

Thank you.