Also under Prop D, the Board of Supervisors' president Tom Ammiano nominated three people for the planning panel and the board confirmed them earlier this month. But they have yet to sit as commissioners, since the mayor pulled his four nominees back on July 15 after a supervisors' committee hearing indicated trouble for two or even three of them.
Mayor spokesman PJ Johnston says previous Planning Commission President Hector Chinchilla, a real estate attorney, appeared headed for board rejection because of his record while serving on the commission and prospective new member who lacked a planning background but had a record as a neighborhood activist was out of favor for her lack of experience.
Without enough members to form a quorum, the Planning Commission, which typically meets each week and holds hearings on projects, has yet to meet this month.
Last Monday Brown also yanked his three nominees to the five-member Board of Appeals out of similar concerns that the supervisors, to whom Prop D also granted the power to name a minority slate of two members on the appellate panel, would not approve his choices. Now that body is also unable to meet for lack of sufficient members.
On Friday, Johnston said his boss is holding off on any further action until he hears from Ammiano or other supervisors that his picks stand a chance of approval. Peskin's proposed resolution, as well as comments from other supervisors' staff members, indicates they prefer for now to see Mayor Brown take the next step.
Some observers have cited a state law mandating approval of project permits by default if too much time goes by without city action, but Peskin says he that prospect poses few risks since developers must request such an action and anything so authorized could then be appealed to the Board of Supervisors.
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