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Economic Development

Pro-Business Permit Center

Public Hearings

State law requires that public hearings be held for rezonings, conditional use rezonings, conditional use permits, modifications of existing conditional use permits, special exceptions to the flood hazard overlay, comprehensive plan amendments, and ordinance amendments.

• In general terms, the public hearing process includes: Meeting with staff to discuss proposal and pick up public hearing package.
• Submitting a public hearing application. Submittal deadline is the third Monday of each month for most items.
• Discuss the public hearing item in a staff review meeting.
• Comments and concerns reviewing with the applicant.
• Sending notification letters from the staff to the adjoining property owners, posts sign(s) on the subject property.
• Sending a legal advertisement to the newspaper.
• Staff reports to the Planning Commission and property owner/applicant.

Planning Commission hearings are held on the first Thursday after the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm.

Public Hearings are held at each City Council meeting on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 6:00pm. Zoning Public Hearings are typically held at the third Tuesday meeting.

For items that do not automatically go to City Council, the appeal deadline is 15 days after the Planning Commission meeting. If a decision by the Planning Commission is appealed or if the decision is by less than a ¾ majority, it will go to the City Council meeting for a new hearing. If no one appeals and the decision is by a ¾ majority, the Planning Commission decision is final.

Consult the Public Hearing schedule for important dates. Approximate average total approval time is two months. Add one month for items that go before City Council due to an appeal or lack of ¾ vote by the Planning Commission. Appeal forms and protest petition forms are available from staff.

Public Hearing Contact:
Jason Thompson, GISP
(704) 854-6629
Email: Planning

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