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A. Purpose

This section provides requirements for neighborhood meetings for proposed development projects. The purpose of promoting public participation in the development review process is to:

1. Build trust through effective public outreach and communication.

2. Promote fair and open dialogue between stakeholders, applicants, staff, board and commission members, and the Town Council.

3. Inform and educate stakeholders regarding the development process, review criteria, and planning and zoning regulations.

4. Provide stakeholders with opportunities to ask questions, identify issues, and forge solutions early in the development process.

5. Promote transparent conveyance of agreed upon solutions to staff, boards and commissions, and Town Council.

6. Promote consistent implementation of agreed upon solutions through the development review process.

((O)22-09, 10/05/22; (O)16-02, 01/20/16)

B. Applicability

1. General

Neighborhood meetings are required for the following development applications:

a. Type 1 and Type 2 General Plan amendments.

b. Rezonings.

c. Conditional use permits.

d. Master development plans.

e. Preliminary plats and development plans.

f. Any other proposed action that results in significant change in the development intensity or compatibility with existing development as determined by the Planning and Zoning Administrator.

2. Exceptions

If a project entails more than one (1) of the aforementioned development applications, a single public participation process may be followed, unless substantial changes have occurred to the proposal or significant issues are identified. When the neighborhood meeting requirements are met for Type 1 and Type 2 General Plan amendments or a rezoning, further meetings may not be required if the following conditions are met:

a. No substantial changes to the approved concept or tentative development plan.

b. There are no unresolved issues related to the application, as defined in subsection B.3 of this section.

3. Exemption from Neighborhood Meeting Requirements

The Planning and Zoning Administrator may determine that a neighborhood meeting is not required in accordance with the following criteria:

a. There are no residential uses or zones within six hundred (600) feet of the subject property, excluding areas designated as right-of-way, open space or drainage easement.

b. If it is determined that the project/proposal is:

i. Consistent with similarly situated property;

ii. Not substantially affecting adjacent land use, streetscape, or views; or

iii. Substantially conforms to an approved tentative development plan or master development plan.

Any project exempted under this section found to have unresolved neighborhood issues or concerns at any point in the development review process may be required to adhere to the neighborhood meeting requirements.

((O)22-09, 10/05/22; (O)17-01, 01/18/17; (O)16-02, 01/20/16; 6/11 supplement, 06/11)

C. Administration

Neighborhood meetings shall be organized by Town Planning and Zoning Department staff in the manner specified in the public participation and notification policy. This policy is subject to review and periodic update by the Planning and Zoning Administrator.

((O)16-02, 01/20/16; 6/11 supplement, 06/11)

D. Public Outreach Plan (POP)

1. The applicant must submit a POP that meets the requirements established by the Planning and Zoning Administrator.

2. The POP must be submitted after pre-application review and before neighborhood meetings are scheduled.

3. The POP must include:

a. A description of the project.

b. Identification of interested stakeholders, including homeowners’ associations that are affected by the proposal.

c. A proposed neighborhood meeting process.

4. The POP must incorporate the neighborhood meeting requirements noted in subsection F of this section. The applicant may propose an alternative process if it is designed to include key stakeholders in a meaningful way, and is consistent with subsection A of this section, Purpose, and the public participation and notification policy. Any alternative proposal will be subject to Planning and Zoning Administrator approval. At a minimum, the POP must contain educational and issue identification and resolution elements, as defined in the public participation and notification policy.

((O)16-02, 01/20/16; 6/11 supplement, 06/11)

E. Public Outreach Report

1. The applicant must submit a public outreach report as part of the project application.

2. The public outreach report must include:

a. A list of neighborhood meetings, noting when and where they were held; the number of people that attended; and copies of sign-in sheets.

b. A list of meeting notification methods used.

c. Copies of comment letters, petitions, and other pertinent information received from residents and other interested parties.

d. A summary of the issues and concerns that were raised.

e. A list of solutions that were agreed upon.

f. A list of issues that were not resolved, with an explanation of why solutions were not achieved.

((O)16-02, 01/20/16)

F. Neighborhood Meeting Requirements

1. Number of Meetings

a. A minimum of two (2) neighborhood meetings are required with the following exceptions:

i. One (1) meeting may be sufficient if the project is of very limited scope and no relevant public concerns have been expressed, as determined by the Planning and Zoning Administrator.

ii. The Planning and Zoning Administrator will announce at the meeting if additional meeting(s) are required to provide more information or to allow for more discussion on the request.

iii. If the project type, layout, or previously agreed upon mitigation solutions are substantially changed after meeting with neighbors, an additional meeting may be required as determined by the Planning and Zoning Administrator.

2. Meeting Location

Neighborhood meetings must be held in a facility that:

a. Is accessible to the general public, such as a Town-owned facility, school, house of worship, or community recreation center; and

b. Provides access for persons with disabilities.

3. Scheduling

a. Neighborhood meetings should typically be scheduled on a weekday evening so that working residents may attend, but may be adapted to neighborhood needs, as appropriate.

b. The first meeting must be scheduled prior to formal submittal of the application.

c. The second meeting is required prior to a formal Town public meeting or hearing.

d. Subsequent meetings may be held during the public hearing process to provide the opportunity to understand resident’s position relative to the request.

4. Meeting Notification

a. Notice shall be provided to all persons and entities identified in the public outreach plan. At a minimum, public notice shall be provided at least fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting, including:

i. A description and the location, date and time of the meeting shall be mailed to property owners within one thousand (1,000) feet for General Plan amendments and to property owners within six hundred (600) feet for all other applications. The notification area may be expanded to include entire neighborhoods or subdivisions which may be impacted by the request, as determined by the Planning and Zoning Administrator.

ii. Sign(s) shall be posted on or near the property and shall be a minimum of three (3) feet by four (4) feet in area and use five (5) inch letters for the title.

iii. Other additional methods identified in the public outreach plan, as approved by the Planning and Zoning Administrator.

5. Facilitation

a. A Town-approved facilitator may be utilized to assist with neighborhood meetings, as defined in the public participation and notification policy.

b. If professional facilitation services are required as determined by the Planning and Zoning Administrator, the applicant is responsible for the fees incurred for such services.