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11 <br /> 1 In addition to financial obstacles, rural communities in particular are hindered by <br /> 2 notification limits in time to make a difference in outcomes affecting their communities and <br /> 3 property. <br /> 4 <br /> 5 Challenges limiting citizens' ability to oppose SUP project applications: <br /> 6 • Cost of representation —The cost of hiring a lawyer precludes many citizens from raising <br /> 7 valid concerns at a public hearing. At quasi-judicial hearings in which County lawyers <br /> 8 represent boards, County staff, and applicants with financial interest, this is a great <br /> 9 disadvantage for citizens. <br /> 10 • Notification limit—The 500-foot County notification limit does not accurately reflect the <br /> 11 wider scope of affected properties in rural zones with expanses of farms, woodlands, <br /> 12 and waterways. Whether the project is an airport, kennel, shooting range or special <br /> 13 event center, its impact of safety, light, noise, traffic and property values extend well <br /> 14 beyond a tenth of a mile. <br /> 15 500 feet does not allow neighbors who would experience impacts to be notifies or have <br /> 16 standing to speak at a hearing. Neighbors more than 500 feet from an SUP applicant <br /> 17 are currently not notified or given standing to speak at public hearings about SUP <br /> 18 proposals affecting their properties. <br /> 19 <br /> 20 Please do not approve the proposed revisions of the UDO. Instead, I urge you to clarify and <br /> 21 expand the ways in which county residents may share concerns with County boards making <br /> 22 critical decisions about our communities. <br /> 23 <br /> 24 Thank you, <br /> 25 <br /> 26 Laura Streitfeld <br /> 27 <br /> 28 <br /> 29 Proposed text amendments in agenda item #2: <br /> 30 (B) The Planning Director shall give Pnotice of the date, time and place of the <br /> 31 public hearing to be held to receive ^^ ts, evidence in the form of 21 testimony and exhibits <br /> 32 pertaining to the application for a Special Use. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 (C) S-Hinh Petino shall be p blic•hed- 0A a Pow6papeF Of general nirn'"-;;tm"r, in (lraRge <br /> 35 <br /> 36 , <br /> 37 22 <br /> 38 <br /> 39 21 The Staff Attorney has suggested this language modification since SUP applications are <br /> 40 quasi-judicial in nature and require testimony rather than comments. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 22 The Staff Attorney has suggested that published newspaper advertisements for quarterly <br /> 43 public hearings not include SUP applications since the general public does not have standing in <br /> 44 such matters and cannot participate. (State Statutes require mailed and posted notice but do not <br /> 45 require legal ads for SUP applications). As shown in the remainder of this section, a notice <br /> 46 would be posted on the affected parcel and adjoining property owners would receive mailed <br /> 47 notification of the hearing date (in addition to mailed and posted notice of the Neighborhood <br /> 48 Information Meeting and Planning Board meeting). <br />