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governmental use, <br />3. 14 days prior to a public hearing where a Conditional <br />Use District or Conditional Zoning District is scheduled <br />for review. <br />• A BOCC member suggested a NIM for a Conditional Zoning District <br />application be held consistent with other similar processes being <br />discussed. <br />STAFF COMMENT: Conditional Zoning District applications are a <br />reviewed as a legislative item. There is no expert testimony or <br />evidence required as part of its review. There is no need for an <br />applicant or a concerned property owner to hire `experts' to testify <br />about the projects compliance or non - compliance with County <br />regulations. <br />The current proposal is intended to address a concern that local <br />property owners be provided an opportunity to learn about the <br />special use permit process (i.e. what constitutes competent, <br />material, evidence) and have sufficient time to prepare. <br />Given the review and action on Conditional Zoning District <br />applications staff does not believe there is a need to change current <br />regulations. <br />October 8, 2014 — Planning Board Meeting. This item was reviewed at the <br />October regular meeting where the following questions /comments were made: <br />• A Planning Board member suggested there be different notification <br />standards for a NIM. For projects in rural areas an applicant would <br />be required to notify all property owners within 1,000 feet, via <br />certified mail, of the meeting while projects in urban areas would be <br />required to send notices to those properties within 500 feet. <br />STAFF COMMENT: The mailing of a meeting notice is not the only <br />method of advertising a NIM. Signs are also posted on the subject <br />parcel notifying all interested parties of the date, time, and location <br />of the meeting where the application will be reviewed. Notification <br />of meetings is also typically posted on the County website. <br />Staff believes different notification requirements lead to confusion, <br />and complaints, from both property owners and applicants. In this <br />case we are concerned complaints will focus on: <br />1. The methodology for determining what areas of the County <br />are urban and rural. <br />2. Property owners are not afforded the same <br />opportunities /rights to participate in the process due to their <br />proximity to a project (i.e. rural residents within 1,000 feet of <br />a project are notified of a meeting but urban residents 1,000 <br />feet from a project are not). <br />Staff continues to recommend the 500 foot notification requirement. <br />5 <br />7 <br />