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ON <br />clearly define the specific procedures and notification requirements for amendments to the adopted <br />Comprehensive Plan. As proposed, the new language provides clear and concise instructions for <br />the application for and processing of Comprehensive Plan amendments not currently included in the <br />ordinance. <br />February 23, 2009 Quarterly Public Hearing <br />This item was heard at the February 23, 2009 Quarterly Public Hearing. While there were no <br />comments made by the public, members of the BOCC and Planning Board provided comments on <br />the proposed amendments. Commissioners expressed their desire to have County initiated <br />Comprehensive Plan amendments be processed in the same manner as non - County initiated <br />amendments. In addition, some stated their preference that Comprehensive Plan amendments and <br />rezonings of the same property be heard separately, at different public hearings, allowing the public <br />time to fully comprehend the two processes and proceedings. The BOCC voted to refer this item to <br />the Planning Board for its review and recommendation to be returned to the County Board of <br />Commissioners no later than April 21, 2009. <br />BOCC suggestions that could not be incorporated with this amendment process due to legal notice <br />limitations will be held for future consideration. <br />March 4, 2009 Planning Board Meeting <br />This item was considered by the Planning Board at the March 4, 2009 meeting. In consideration of <br />the comments made at the Quarterly Public Hearing, staff modified the proposed amendments to <br />Article 2, Sections 2.2.14.3 through 2.2.14.9 and presented them to the Planning Board. The <br />modifications are outlined in Attachment 4. The new revisions are shown in underline / strike - <br />through format in Attachment 1, with new additions shown in blue and new deletions shown in <br />green. After little discussion, the Planning Board voted 8 -1 to recommend approval of the modified <br />proposed amendments to Article 2 of the Zoning Ordinance as shown in Attachment 2. <br />Staffs rationale for some of the original and post- Quarterly Public Hearing amendments is noted in <br />Attachment 3. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: There are no financial impacts associated with adopting the proposed <br />amendments. Staff time and the legal advertisements have been accounted for in the departmental <br />budget. Depending on the outcome of clarifications, future costs for notifications could change. <br />Notifications, as proposed, include newspaper legal advertisements at least twice prior to the public <br />hearing, as well as mailings and posting affected properties. As illustrated by the example shown in <br />Attachment 3, the proposed amendments could have a significant impact on the budget. <br />Processing a large -scale Comprehensive Plan amendment could have upwards of $6,000 in costs <br />for notifications for one project. By processing Zoning amendments at the same public hearing, <br />another $6,000 outlay could be avoided. Additionally, annual work plans could include 5 or more <br />large -scale projects per year. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Administration recommends the Board take the following actions: <br />1. Receive the Planning Board recommendation, <br />2. Close the public hearing, and <br />3. Approve the proposed amendments to Article 2 of the Zoning Ordinance to clarify the <br />language and clearly articulate the procedures for amendments to the adopted <br />Comprehensive Plan. <br />