Planning Commission Turnover Continues; Zechmeister Resigns

By Martin Henderson

Jerry Zechmeister, who for more than a decade has been on the Planning Commission of Lake Forest, has resigned from his position. 

Zechmeister was the commission chairman. His four-year term was to expire in 2014. 

In a letter to the City Council, Zechmeister said his decision was based on "business and personal reasons. ... but (the) timing is right for me to move on to other responsibilities and allow our newer commissioners to carry on the work."

His departure leaves the commission with only one member with more than a year's experience, Jerry Verplancke. A year ago, the commission didn't have any member with less than six years' experience on the Lake Forest body. 

"It has been an honor to serve on the planning commission for the last 11 years," Zechmeister said in his resignation letter. "I thank the Council for giving me the opportunity. I have great pride in watching the Planning Commission go from a reactionary body, to a proactive one for many of the new developments, our citywide design guidelines, retaining walls and other projects. It has been exciting being involved in the development of Etnies Skate Park, the redevelopment of El Toro Road with the Orchard and the Home Depot Center at the Arbor, the Sports Park, the Opportunities Study with development by Shea Baker, Baldwin and IRWD (Irvine Ranch Water District) and many smaller projects along the way.

"I believe that the high standards held by myself and the others on the commission have created excellent projects throughout the City."

Zechmeister's decision further embroils the City in turmoil as the city council now must choose a fourth new commissioner since January. Two of those positions took place naturally because the terms of David Carter (who served 19 years) and Terry Anderson (six years) came to an end. They were replaced by C.J. Brower and Andrew Hamilton. 

But Tim Hughes, a critic of the city council majority's decision that placed Brower and Hamilton, whom Hughes said were often unprepared, resigned over the summer because of business commitments that took him out of town. Coincidentally, Hughes, chairman of the commission at the time of his resignation, is scheduled to be honored for his 19 years of commission service at the beginning of tonight's commission meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. He was a founding commissioner.

Since the resignation of Hughes, and also in reaction to the council majority that selected Brower and Hamilton and then appointed Jolene Fuentes as Hughes' replacement, 19-year councilman Peter Herzog resigned one month ago.

The City is accepting applications for Herzog's replacement until Nov. 20; the position will be appointed by council members Kathryn McCullough, Adam Nick, Dwight Robinson and Mayor Scott Voigts. At least three of the four council members must reach a consensus on Herzog's replacement by Dec. 14 or put the city through a costly special election. 

When Hughes resigned from the Commission, the city received about a dozen applicants before appointing Fuentes, whose primary background was as board member of the Lake Forest II HOA; she was chosen ahead of Carter and Anderson, who had sought reappointment during the biggest building boon in city history.

Over the past 11 months, the commission has lost 55 years of institutional knowledge with the departures of Anderson, Carter, Hughes and Zechmeister.

City spokesperson Debra Rose the same process would be used for Zechmeister's replacement with the expectation that it would get under way in early 2014.