§ 12.2.4. Neighbor referral and neighborhood meeting.

A.

Neighbor referral.

1.

The neighbor referral shall provide information about a specific development application, the development review process, and process time frame. The neighbor referral and comment process will serve three purposes:

a.

To provide information about a development application and an opportunity for property owners in the vicinity to comment on a land use application that requires county approval;

b.

To gather neighbor comments, concerns, and/or suggestions about the development application early in the review process and enable the applicant ample opportunity to address the comments; and

c.

To provide a written report to boards and commissions describing comments received and any modification(s) made in response to the comments.

2.

The neighbor referral is required for all minor special review, special review, special exception, rezoning, conservation development, subdivision, and planned land division applications. The planning director may require a neighborhood meeting for a project if he/she determines the meeting would be beneficial. The director's decision to require a meeting cannot be appealed.

3.

Neighbor referral and comment process for sketch plan.

a.

Upon receipt of a sketch plan application, property owners in the vicinity of the proposal will be mailed referral materials which will include information about the application and the development review process.

b.

The referral shall provide 14 days for property owners or neighbors in the vicinity to respond with any comments, questions, or concerns about the application. Comments shall be submitted to the planning department. The planning department shall provide the applicant with a copy of any comments received.

c.

At the sketch plan meeting the planning director will determine if a neighborhood meeting (see section 12.2.4.B.) is required based on land use impact or comments received.

d.

Prior to the neighborhood meeting (if required) or public hearing application, the applicant shall respond to comments received during the neighbor referral. The applicant shall provide a written report detailing comments and the applicant's response to those comments. The written report will be available for review and will also be included in the staff report prepared for any public hearing on the proposal.

4.

Neighbor referral and comment process for public hearing.

a.

Upon receipt of a development application, property owners in the vicinity of the proposal will be mailed referral materials which will include information about the application and the development review process.

b.

The referral shall provide property owners or neighbors in the vicinity an opportunity to comment on the application. Comments shall be submitted to the planning department. The planning department shall provide the applicant with a copy of any comments received.

c.

Comments will be included in the staff report prepared for any public hearing on the proposal.

d.

Throughout the public hearing process, interested parties will have the opportunity to review application materials online or in person at the planning department.

B.

Neighborhood meeting.

1.

When required, a neighborhood meeting must be conducted after sketch plan review and before an application is submitted for any procedure requiring a public hearing. (Note: A neighborhood meeting is required for a rural land use plan but has different requirements. See section 5.8.5.C.6.)

2.

Neighborhood meeting process.

a.

Neighborhood meetings will be conducted by the applicant or the applicant's designee.

b.

The staff planner assigned to the project and the applicant will coordinate meeting time, place and notice to neighbors.

c.

Property owners in the vicinity of the proposal will be notified of a neighborhood meeting by mailed notice at least 14 days in advance of the meeting date.

d.

The staff planner will attend the neighborhood meeting as a resource for process questions. Staff will not provide information about project specifics or facilitate the meeting.

e.

The applicant is responsible for all expenses of the neighborhood meeting including but not limited to facility costs and the cost of the meeting notice. The applicant will provide a meeting notetaker.

f.

The applicant will prepare a written report of meeting comments. The report will become part of the case file. The applicant will document and respond to all comments provided at the neighborhood meeting and neighbor referral process for sketch plan. The written report will be available for review and it will also be included in the staff report prepared for any public hearing on the proposal.

Note— Public hearings. All public hearing procedures will be completed as expeditiously as possible. The application materials include a schedule, which the planning department will follow if the applicant submits the appropriate materials on the deadline established for each step in the process. Schedules are based on time frames established by state statute for reviewing agency response times and minimum requirements for notice of public hearings. An application cannot begin to be processed until the planning director determines the application is complete and sufficient.

(Res. No. 04292003R005, 4-29-2003; Res. No. 09122006R002, Exh. A, 9-12-2006; Res. No. 10282008R004, Exh. A, 10-28-2008; Res. No. 07312012R007, § 2(Exh. A), 6-11-2012)