Longtime Pine Bluff Planning and Development Commission Chairman Lou Taylor announced his resignation Tuesday, citing fatigue. Taylor, who has served as chairman for more than half of his 20 years on the commission, said Tuesday’s meeting was his last. Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington will announce a replacement, he said.
“I’ve had a wonderful time, I’ve had a wonderful ride, I’ve loved seeing my city grow and being a part of that growth,” Taylor said at the close of the commission’s Tuesday meeting.
Taylor, 64, was appointed by former Pine Bluff Mayor Dutch King. He said he was proud of the commission’s work during his tenure, particularly its record of conducting business without exposing the city to lawsuits.
“My main thing was to follow the law, grow our tax base and keep us out of court,” he said. “Prior to my tenure, we were sued quite a bit.”
Taylor’s resignation caps a period of significant turnover on the commission, which has seen four other members step down in the last year. Two long-serving commissioners were forced to retire after the Pine Bluff City Council passed an ordinance instituting 10-year limits of service on the commission, while two others stepped down voluntarily. Planning Commission Secretary Gordon Reece is the most senior commissioner remaining. Joe Clement, the former vice-chairman, stepped down in May due to term limits. The commission will vote for a new chairman, vice-chairman and secretary at its next meeting on June 27.
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Lakishia Hill, a zoning administrator in the city’s inspection and zoning department, said Taylor has chaired the committee throughout her 13 years with the city. She commended his service and expressed apprehension about the amount of turnover, as new commissioners learn on the job.
“I will be honest, I’m a little scared,” Hill said. “We knew what we had, and we were a well-oiled machine. This commission can get the city sued.
“When you make a decision for one, you will have a hard time denying it to anyone else,” Hill told the commission. “Not based on someone you know. That is what we’ve had in the last 13 years that I have been sitting here, and I hope that we continue in that capacity.”
Taylor spent his last moments as chairman advising the new commissioners to handle their responsibility with care.
“Follow your staff, follow the law,” he said.
Taylor, a realtor who owns Lou Taylor Realty PLLC, said he looked forward to having more free time for relaxation and to focus on his own work. The time commitment of preparing for meetings and visiting sites under review of the planning department “hurts a business,” he said. “I want to grow my business.”