Germantown Planning Commission Organizational Meeting and Annual Training – January 6, 2026
Germantown Planning Commission Organizational Meeting and Annual Training – January 6, 2026
The Germantown Planning Commission held its annual organizational meeting on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included the election of officers, approval of minutes from prior meetings, appointment of commission liaisons, adoption of the Germantown Forward 2035 Strategic Plan, and the required annual training session conducted by City Attorney Josh Whitehead. The meeting concluded with administrative updates and a public hearing announcement for January 20.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the December 2, 2025 Planning Commission meeting were approved unanimously (8-0). The minutes from the December 18, 2025 Sketch Plan meeting were approved with Commissioners Jacobs and Sisson abstaining (they were not present at that meeting).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No citizen comments were offered.
Discussion Items
- Election of Officers: Three positions were filled by voice votes: John McCreary was nominated and elected Chairman (McCreary abstained from the vote), Dyke Bacon was elected Vice Chairman (Bacon abstained), and Jennifer Sisson (who arrived late) was elected Secretary (unanimous aye). All officers assumed their roles for 2026.
- Commission Liaison Appointments: Commissioners agreed to serve as liaisons: Jim Jacobs to the Board of Zoning Appeals, Robert Sloan to the Parks and Recreation Commission, David Clark to the Transportation Commission, and Jennifer Sisson to the Tree Board. No formal vote was required.
- Adoption of Germantown Forward 2035 Strategic Plan: Planning Director Cameron Ross presented the annual update, emphasizing how the commission’s work aligns with the city’s strategic objectives, particularly in economic development, land use, and transportation. The comprehensive plan update was highlighted as a key action for 2026. The commission unanimously adopted the strategic plan.
- Annual Training: Attorney Josh Whitehead conducted the training, covering open meetings law, ex parte communication, findings of fact for subdivisions, zoning amendments, site plans, plan developments, and conditional use permits (a new pending process). He stressed explaining votes to avoid challenges and the importance of impartiality. Commissioners asked questions about site visits, recusal standards, and the 10-year vested property rights timeline.
Key Outcomes
- Election Results: John McCreary (Chairman), Dyke Bacon (Vice Chairman), Jennifer Sisson (Secretary) elected for 2026.
- Minutes Approved: December 2, 2025 regular meeting unanimously; December 18, 2025 sketch plan meeting with two abstentions.
- Strategic Plan Adopted: Unanimous (8-0) adoption of the Germantown Forward 2035 Strategic Plan.
- Training Completed: One hour of state-required continuing education satisfied; additional requirements (4 total hours) to be met by year-end.
- Upcoming Event: The Industrial Development Board will hold a public hearing on a standard tax increment financing (TIF) application on January 20, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers; commissioners were encouraged to attend and speak.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, folks. Welcome to the Planning Commission meeting for January of 2026. Happy new year to uh staff, um planning commission members and those that are watching as well on TV or streaming. This is my favorite meeting of the year. This is where I get to hold an election. I love elections. It's in fact it's an election year. Um being that said, um opposed to having uh the normal uh business that moves forward where we um do approval of minutes and things like that. The first thing we'll do this evening is have elections. There are three uh positions that serve the community on the planning commission, the chairman, the vice chairman, and the secretary as well. Um and so as such, we will require that we have a uh nomination period for each position, and uh that we also uh vote on each of those positions. So at this time, I would declare that chair for the uh Germantown Planning Commission. I will now accept any nominations for chair at this time. So nominating period is now open. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to nominate Mr. John McCreary for the 2026 chairman of the planning commission. Thank you, Commissioner. Is there a second? I'll say there is a second by Mr. Clark. Is that correct? Very good. Are there any other nominations? Hearing or seeing no one come forward. The nomination period is now closed. I will ask for a vo a voice a voice vote on this. All those in favor of the nomination of John McCreary to serve as Planning Commission Chairman, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Mayor Little Records, I'd abstain. Very good. The record let the record show that must refer to you as Alderman. Is Alderman Emeritus or Commissioner McCreary abstained from the vote? Um, but congratulations, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. Thank you for your confidence in me as well as the board. Well, I and I appreciate it. Um this has been one of those commissions that uh I think leads by example, and it starts at the top. And so we appreciate your work and uh we look forward to another year of that. Thank you, sir. The uh the second position tonight will be the position of vice chair to serve in the absence of the chairman. Uh I will now declare the nomination uh period open for anyone who would like to bring forward a name to serve as vice chairman of the planning commission. I would like to nominate uh commissioner bacon. Uh Commissioner Bacon. Commissioner. That's correct. You're appointed to Dyke?
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