Minutes 11-06-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Commissioner Rich said she does not feel that there has been enough outreach to the public regarding this process. Chair Jacobs noted that the discussion is not ending, just being deferred to another date. Commissioner Rich asked for an explanation on the reason for deferring it. Chair Jacobs said the Board would advertise the public hearing, and if significant changes are being made, there would be extraordinary efforts to make sure the public is aware of what is being proposed. Commissioner Rich said that is her point - that there may need to be more effort made to put the information out there about these changes. Commissioner Gordon said if this is changed, it is important to make sure the public has as much opportunity to comment as possible. She recommends that no conclusion should be made at the end of a regular public hearing, because this was often the first time that issues are articulated. She said that to her it does not seem helpful to distinguish between quasi-judicial special use permit hearings and the legislative hearings if that means re-zonings do not have enough time. She agrees that it takes longer for a special use permit if you are going to try to get expert testimony. She would like to make sure that there will be plenty of time for re- zonings, especially for hearings involving conditional zoning districts since they involve a relatively new process. Commissioner Gordon said she was interested to see that there was no recommendation to increase the number of hearings, and if there were to be an increase, she thinks seven meetings would work. Commissioner Gordon said the main point is that the public needs more time to comment than just a few days. She likes the idea of posting information when an application comes in that meets the ordinance requirements. She said she wonders about the issue of not requiring the Planning Board to attend the public hearings. She values the input of the Planning Board, and they offer public perspective as well as expertise. Commissioner Gordon said this is a process that can be tweaked, as long as the basics, such as making sure the public has sufficient time for providing input, are in place. She said the public hearing is when the information needs to come out, and this needs to be followed by some time to think about the issues before voting. Commissioner Price said she is a little confused on this process. She said this will not be resolved until sometime in 2015, and there is no mechanism right now to assure when and how the public will be involved. Bonnie Hammersley said she has attended the last two Planning Board meetings, and she intends to be involved in this process. She said when this comes forward she will make sure everyone is informed about this process. She said if it is the will of the Board, this will be well advertised if it goes forward. She said this hearing is being closed because of the anticipation of significant changes that will require future public input. Commissioner Price echoed what Commissioner Gordon said. She feels the Planning Board should be a part of the public hearings. Commissioner porosin said he had some questions about the flow chart. He said the current process is that a public hearing is held, and the public speaks; then the Planning Board is sent away and instructed to come back with a recommendation; then the public does not have an opportunity to comment on the Planning Board's comments; then there is possibly another meeting for this to come back to the Board of County Commissioners. He said this seems problematic, and this was the concern he originally expressed.