Alderman Fioretti’s Citizens Advisory Committee, a group that makes recommendations to him about new development projects and zoning changes, is a fine-enough idea in theory. In practice, operations of the group haven’t lived up to the standard Fioretti articulated for himself during his campaign to represent the 2nd Ward in city council.

To wit: It’s disappointing to see Fioretti’s change of policy on the Buckhingham Phase II student dorm, a move detailed in this week’s paper, made on the basis of a meeting and presentation the development team gave to the CAC. The group has had little public profile. Its current members weren’t released to this newspaper as they were before, and its meetings and its decisions similarly aren’t available in a public forum.

Lack of clarity about the CAC clouds the development review process. It contributes to a “trust us” approach that won’t work if and when real estate development picks up once again.

The alderman needs to shed light on the CAC and, crucially, decide when community organizations that represent residents — as opposed to business interests — get to weigh in on projects. Dennis McClendon, president of South Loop Neighbors, argues in this week’s paper that that should happen well before the official, legal land-use approval process starts in the city bureaucracy. We agree.

This is not an easy question to answer. Elsewhere in the city, we’ve seen community groups taken over by real estate concerns (detailed in the now-dead West Town Chicago Journal and the Tribune’s “Neighborhoods for Sale” investigation) or splinter groups of NIMBY-addled residents pushing parochial interests.

And aside from the CAC, the existence of which has sown confusion, Fioretti has held widely attended meetings about the Avalon Bay rental towers and the next phase of Rockwell Gardens. Credit where credit is due.

Elsewhere, as with the Buckingham II zoning change, the process has been more confused.

McClendon, an urban planner by trade, proposes a three-step approach. First, the developer and alderman meet, and discuss a proposed project in light of the Near South Community Plan. Next, representatives from community organizations weigh in with suggestions. A well-publicized open-to-the-public meeting then follows before the city approval process starts.

This seems reasonable. It will be up to Ald. Fioretti whether he takes it up. Whatever the case, residents want to weigh in on development projects. Finding a consistent, transparent and fair way for them to do that is the alderman’s job.