Ethics soon may be included in the bylaws of the DeKalb Plan Commission.

In response to the incidents following Herb Rubin’s letters to the editor in the Daily Chronicle concerning growth in DeKalb, the commission considered amending its bylaws to include ethics statements at Wednesday night’s meeting.

“You know that your opinion is going to be heard,” Plan Commission member John Guio said.

The concerns of the commission eventually came to whether the members should voice their personal opinions until a subject has been finalized.

Community Development Director Paul Rasmussen pointed out that implementing ethics statements on city government commissioners is cutting edge, meaning he was not sure of many, if any, other cities are doing it.

The Plan Commission decided to go to the city attorney for help on clarification of legal issues involving the ethics of public discussion of commission issues.

DeKalb 3D Comprehensive Plan also was discussed at the meeting.

The key elements, as City Planner Ray Keller and other members of the commission declared, were water, sewer and the fire department’s response time.

Rubin proposed that a staged growth plan be implemented so that residential development does not out pace other development. NIU also was considered in the development talk.

“How do we accommodate the needs of the major employer?” Rasmussen said. “That’s my pitch.”

The commission brought up the issue of growth which was discussed at the city council meeting Tuesday. The council decided at the meeting to get input from surrounding communities about developmental growth.

Rubin said the Plan Commission has held public hearings and has received input about the comprehensive plan.

“It makes it very difficult for the planners,” Rubin said.

The commission passed a motion to submit a rough draft of the plan to the council, and to hold a public hearing on a later date.

Another issue which was discussed both by the city council and Plan Commission was development of portions of the city with existing structures.

“My impression from what the council members were saying, and what the speakers were saying, is we don’t have a growth plan,” Plan Commission chairman Rich Fassig said.

Both Greek Row and the Northland Plaza, among other areas, were mentioned as old developments which are being revitalized.

“It is absolutely essential to have a balance between the new stuff and the old stuff,” Rasmussen said.