(a) In general. The Office of Planning and Zoning shall submit a list of applications to the Administrative Hearing Officer weekly for the scheduling of hearings. Not less than 20 days before the date for each hearing, the Office shall transmit to the Administrative Hearing Officer its entire file for each application. Not less than seven days before the date of each hearing, the Office shall transmit to the Administrative Hearing Officer the written position of the Office of Planning and Zoning on each application. The Administrative Hearing Officer shall maintain a docket of each case to be heard, and the docket shall include each case or file number, the name of the case, and the date of the hearing.
(b) Hearing date. Not more than 30 days after receipt of the list of applications, the Administrative Hearing Officer shall schedule a hearing and notify the applicant. The time, date, and place of the hearing shall be fixed with due regard for the interest and convenience of the public and the parties, except that hearings for rezonings shall begin no earlier than 6:00 p.m.
(c) Postponements. After a hearing has been scheduled, the hearing may not be postponed unless a written motion is filed that demonstrates compelling circumstances for a postponement. If the Administrative Hearing Officer grants a postponement, the sign provisions of § 18-16-203 shall be complied with anew and the Administrative Hearing Officer shall require the person who requested the postponement to pay all costs caused by the postponement.
(Bill No. 4-05; Bill No. 93-12; Bill No. 53-17)