Agenda - 09-05-2000-8p - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 i There would also be another opportunity after the public hearing far mare comments from the public. 2 He said that the staff worked with the Institute of Government and an intern that was doing some 3 paperwork on decision making and public policy. He said that bringing in the public at an earlier time 4 usually leads to better understanding. He said that over the next 12 to 18 months, there would be a lot 5 of changes in the comprehensive plan and he hoped that the public participation procedures would 6 assist in making the changes more understandable. 7 s UESTIONS FROM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OR PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS 9 Commissioner Brown asked what the new procedures would eliminate that are presently being to done. Craig Benedict said that instead of sending out 5,000 notices, the Planning Department would l i place ads in a newspaper far four consecutive weeks. In addition, they would have an open house 12 meeting at a residence or location in the specific area. These changes in notification would only be 13 when the County is changing major regulations. Anyone who petitions far a zoning change to make 14 their property commercial, or to build a tower, would have to fallow the other guidelines and every i5 person, within that 500-foot boundary would have to be notified. i6 Commissioner Brown asked if a public information meeting would be done each time. Planner i~ Robert Davis said that for regular rezonings this procedure would not be followed. There would also be 18 signs posted around the property announcing the public hearing. Craig Benedict said that the Planning 19 stafF Could consider some sort of neighborhood meeting. 20 Commissioner Brown clarified that the neighborhood meeting could be added and Craig Benedict 21 said yes, this is a suggested change that the Planning Board will consider. 2z Commissioner Gordon feels that this process is an improvement but she hesitates to eliminate the 23 letters and asked if the letters could be retained in the process. 24 Craig Benedict explained the reasons for no# retaining sending out of letters in the process. He 25 feels that it is a better investment in staff time to meet personally with people in the area where a zs change has been requested. 27 Commissioner Gordon feels that it would help if people received a letter because some people do 28 not read the newspaper. Craig Benedict said that the staff would consider keeping the letters as 29 proposals are brought back. 3o Commissioner Jacobs said that he shares the concerns of Commissioner Gordan about 31 eliminating the letters. He made reference to the advertising and Craig Benedict clarified that it would 32 be four weeks in one newspaper of .public record. He likes the idea of open houses and having the 33 meetings in the communities. He made reference to page five and questioned the posting of signs at 34 least ten days before the meeting and asked if peapfe could be given additional time and if the signs 35 could be posted more in advance. 36 ~ Craig Benedict said that the signs could be posted sooner than 10 days. 37 Commissioner Jacobs would like for the signs to be pasted longer than ten days. He made 3s reference to page six and the advertising according to state statute and the rationale behind placing 39 larger advertising. The state statute is less than % of a newspaper page in size. 4o Craig Benedict said that because Orange County sends out individual notices, that the ads have 41 been smaller in the past. He said that the staff is suggesting that the County put larger ads in the paper 42 than what is required by state law. He said that even though the larger ad is expensive, the increasing 43 amount of letters sent out is also expensive. 44 Commissioner Jacobs made reference to page eight and asked if this was the explanation or the 45 verbiage that would be included in the ordinance. He feels that'adjacent' needs to be defined. He said 46 that he hopes this can be coordinated with developing a citizens guide for dealing with the planning 47 process. He suggested that a subcommittee of the Planning Board might want to initiate this project. 4$ He feels that citizens who have attended meetings to speak one way or the other should be included on 49 the committee. He volunteered to serve on the committee along with Commissioner Brown. 5o Commissioner Brown asked about the follow up process after the neighborhood meetings. Craig 51 Benedict said that follow up would occur. From the neighborhood meetings a mailing list will be 52 developed and follow up notices will be sent for each step of the process. 53