Minutes - 05-22-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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decision making and public policy. He said that bringing in the public at an earlier time usually leads to better understanding. He said that aver the next 12 to 18 months, there would be a lot of changes in the comprehensive plan and he hoped that the public participation procedures would assist in making the changes more understandable. QUESTIONS FROM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OR PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS Commissioner Brown asked what the new procedures would eliminate from the present practice. Craig Benedict said that instead of sending out 5,000 notices, the Planning Department would place ads in a newspaper for four consecutive weeks. In addition, they would have an open house -meeting at a residence or location in the specific area. These changes in notification would only be when the County is changing major regulations. Anyone who petitions for a zoning change to make their property commercial, or to build a tower, would have to follow the other guidelines and every person within that 500-foot boundary would have to be notified. Commissioner Brawn asked if a public information meeting would be done each time. Planner Robert Davis said that for a regular rezoning this procedure would not be followed. There would also be signs posted around the property announcing the public hearing. Craig Benedict said that the Planning staff could consider some sort of neighborhood meeting. Commissioner Brown clarified that the neighborhood meeting could be added and Craig Benedict said yes, this is a suggested change that the Planning Board will consider. Commissioner Gordon feels that the education process is an improvement but she hesitates to eliminate the letters and asked if the letters could be retained in the process. Craig Benedict explained the reasons far not retaining the sending out of letters in the process. He feels that it is a better investment in staff time to meet personally with people in the area where a change has been requested. Commissioner Gordon feels that it would help if people received a letter because some people do not read the newspaper. Craig Benedict said that the staff would consider keeping the letters as proposals are brought back. Commissioner Jacobs said that he shares the concerns of Commissioner Gordon about eliminating the letters. He made reference to the advertising and Craig Benedict clarified that it would be four weeks in one newspaper of public record. He likes the idea of open houses and having the meetings in the communities. He made reference to page five and questioned the posting of signs at least ten days before the meeting and asked if people could be given additional time and if the signs could be pasted more in advance. Craig Benedict said that the signs could be pasted sooner than 10 days. Commissioner Jacobs would like for the signs to be posted longer than ten days. He made reference to page six and the advertising according to state statute and the rationale behind placing larger advertising. The state statute is less than ~/ of a newspaper page in size. Craig Benedict said that because Orange County sends out individual notices, that the ads have been smaller in the past. He said that the staff is suggesting that the County put larger ads in the paper than what is required by state law. He said that even though the larger ad is expensive, the increasing amount of letters sent out is also expensive. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to page eight and asked if this was the explanation or the verbiage that would be included in the ordinance. He feels that 'adjacent' needs to be defined. He said that he hopes this can be coordinated with developing a citizen's guide for dealing with the planning process. He suggested that a subcommittee of the Planning Board might want to initiate this project. He feels that citizens who have attended meetings to speak one way ar the other should be included an the committee. He volunteered to serve on the committee along with Commissioner Brown. Commissioner Brown asked about the follow up process after the neighborhood meetings. Craig Benedict said that follow up would occur. From the neighborhood meetings a mailing list will be developed and follow up notices will be sent for each step of the process. There were no questions from Planning Board members. John Link made reference to page 10 and compared the old with the new procedure and asked about the BOCC work session. Craig Benedict said that each item would be presented at a work