AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET
DEPARTMENT: Department of Development Services
CM: Todd Hileman
DATE: April 25, 2017
SUBJECT
Title
Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding current notification practices and requirements for public hearings and public meetings.
Body
BACKGROUND
The Texas Local Government Code (TLGC) sets minimum requirements for notifications for Planning and Zoning-related public hearings. The TLGC requires:
* Published notice of the hearing in the official newspaper before the 15th day before the date of the hearing; and
* Written notices be mailed out to property owners located within 200-feet of the subject property via regular mail before the 10th day before the hearing date.
In addition to the TLGC requirements, the current practice of the Planning Division is to:
* Publish a notice in the Denton Record Chronicle 17 days prior to the public hearing date;
* Mail written notices to property owners located within 200-feet of the subject property via certified mail 12 days prior to the public hearing date.
* Mail a courtesy notice via regular mail to all residents of property located within 500 ft of the subject property 12 days prior to the public hearing date.
* Post a sign on the subject property 12 days prior to the public hearing date.
Exhibit 1 provides a comparison table of public hearing notification requirements found in repealed Sections of the Municipal Code of Ordinances, the notification requirements per Subchapter 35.3 of the DDC, and the notification requirements per section 211.007 of the TLGC.
Exhibit 2 provides a comparison table illustrating the notification requirements of neighboring cities.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In order to enhance the City's notification efforts and level of service to residents and property owners, staff recommends the following changes to current practices:
1. Mail out public hearing notices (81/2" x 11" full color, two-sided letter) to property owners within...
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