At their July 14, meeting the Planning and Zoning Commission had to cancel two public hearings on special exceptions one for a Package Store within the North Side Commercial District and the other for a Pre-School on 21st Avenue. Staff reported, that the local paper messed up with running the public notices.
In addition, planning and zoning members passed a motion that changed the procedure required when notices are placed in the paper.
In the future all Public Notices placed in the paper shall include the street address and legal description of the property in question. Staff will send letters to property owners within 500 feet of the development site, as opposed to sending them only to adjacent property owners. Also, the posting of signs is now a requirement at properties whose owners are requesting the zoning change.
In addition, planning and zoning members passed a motion that changed the procedure required when notices are placed in the paper.
In the future all Public Notices placed in the paper shall include the street address and legal description of the property in question. Staff will send letters to property owners within 500 feet of the development site, as opposed to sending them only to adjacent property owners. Also, the posting of signs is now a requirement at properties whose owners are requesting the zoning change.
What a long overdue change. If we truely want public comment, then the public needs to know exactly what is being discussed and where. The next logical step is to include the names of the property owners requesting change. Not, of course, that there would be any political or commercial maneuvoring involved, but it would lend a certain transparency to our government functions. Thanks.
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