Phil Anderson Resigns from Planning Commission, Jones Appoints Replacement

Planning Commission member Phil Anderson has resigned. The move comes a month after a turbulent planning commission meeting, when Yellow Creek Resident Wesley Weaver called for Anderson’s resignation. Weaver’s grievance was due to Anderson’s involvement in a controversial Character Plan Proposal. Referring to the plan, Weaver said,

“We did not agree that we could only paint our houses a certain color; we did not agree that we could not put signs in our yards; we did not agree that we could not have old cars in our yards; we did not agree that we are prohibited from cutting trees in our own yards.”

Weaver read a petition signed by 381 residents. He said that by signing the petition, residents show their concern, anger and hostility to the proposed plan.

“I would call upon Mr. Anderson to resign from this board,”

he said, adding,

“If he is not so inclined to resign, I’d call upon Commissioner Rob Jones to terminate Mr. Anderson from his position on this board and all boards which he is on in the county and not to appoint him to any other boards in the county.”

The public received word of the Character Plan Proposal through an article in a local publication. For his part, Anderson said he was misquoted in the article, which highlighted a December meeting discussing the topic.

“What I brought to the Planning Commission on the 12th of December was a discussion about a process,”

Anderson said,

“a process for developing a character area plan and I have no proposal for what that character area plan should look like.”

Referring to the quote in the article, he explained that he said the application for the Character Plan would be approved, not a plan itself.

Presently, the details of Anderson’s resignation are scarce. FYN has yet to confirm the reason for his departure. However, Commissioner Robert Jones has appointed Maurice “Toddy” Hendrix to fill Anderson’s vacancy. Hendrix was present at the planning commission meeting this month, whose term will end December 31, 2012.