[RCAC] RCAC Resolution re: Public Notice of Comp Plan Amendment Period

Dear Councilors and City Staff: Please see the resolution below, passed at yesterday's Raleigh Citizens' Advisory Council meeting, regarding public notice of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment period. We have learned since last night's meeting that the cut-off date for amendments has now been properly established as May 1, which addresses one of the requests in the resolution. However, we ask that you also honor our related requests for proper and adequate public notification of the amendment period, as detailed in the resolution below. Respectfully, Ana Duncan Pardo Chair, Raleigh Citizens' Advisory Council -------------------- Resolution regarding proper public notice of the Comp Plan amendment period *Raleigh Citizens' Advisory Council meeting, 2/17/2010 * *Background:* On May 26, 2009 the Planning Commission passed a motion that all future comments (concerning the new Comprehensive Plan) be reviewed six months after Plan adoption. There was an indication at that time that Mitchell Silver, the City Planning Director, had provided staff’s suggested recommendations for new request submittals. On Feb 10, 2010 a new Comprehensive Plan Amendment Petition form and process was published on the City web site without announcement or links from any other web site pages. On Feb 16, 2010 during a related Citizen Petition item Mitchell Silver indicated requests using the new form could be made without the customary development fee of $514.00 but would need to be received by April 1, 2010. There is some confusion as to the specific dates associated with the Planning Commission’s motion to establish a 6 month window for new comments, the process forms involved or that it was without charge. Very little public awareness of this process has been made available. *Resolution:* As advocates for Raleigh citizens, the RCAC requests the City Planning Department take the following action: 1. Make the process for petitioning to amend the Comprehensive Plan more visible on the City web site with appropriate links to ensure easy public access. 2. Request Public Affairs to announce the amendment process by Mar 1, 2010 indicating clearly the closing date for input, the waiver of customary fees during this window and the dates of the Public Hearing where these new requests will be heard. 3. Establish a web based log to track these Comprehensive Plan Amendment requests from Nov 1, 2009 forward with the location linked from the Comprehensive Plan web page and similarly related city web site pages. 4. Confirm the cutoff date as May 1, 2010 for submitting no-charge amendment requests. Approved unanimously on Feb 17, 2010 by RCAC motion. Ana Duncan Pardo RCAC Chair