(A) Every zone change and conditional use permit application shall include a citizen participation plan that must be implemented prior to the first public hearing.
(B) The purpose of the citizen participation plan is to achieve the following:
(1) Ensure that applicants pursue early and effective citizen participation in conjunction with their applications, giving them the opportunity to understand and try to mitigate any real or perceived impacts their application may have on the community or on the neighborhood;
(2) Ensure that the citizens and property owners of Tusayan have an adequate opportunity to learn about applications that may affect them and to work with applicants to resolve concerns at an early stage of the process; and
(3) Facilitate ongoing communication between the applicant, interested citizens and property owners, town staff and elected officials throughout the application review process.
(C) The citizen participation plan is not intended to produce complete consensus on all applications, but to encourage applicants to be good neighbors and to allow for informed decision making.
(D) At a minimum, the citizen participation plan shall include the following:
(1) Which residents, property owners, interested parties and public and private agencies may be affected by the application;
(2) How those interested in and potentially affected by an application will be notified that an application has been made;
(3) How those interested and potentially affected parties will be informed of the substance of the zone change, amendment or development proposed by the application;
(4) How those interested and affected parties will be provided an opportunity to discuss the applicant’s proposal with the applicant and express any concerns, issues or problems they may have with the proposal in advance of the public hearing;
(5) The applicant’s schedule for completion of the citizen participation plan; and
(6) How the applicant will keep the town staff informed on the status of citizen participation efforts.
(E) Applicants must conduct a neighborhood community meeting prior to submitting an application for a zone change or a conditional use permit.
(1) The meeting must be conducted in the general vicinity of the property involved in the application. The meeting serves as a forum for information exchange between applicants and affected members of the public.
(2) An applicant may make a written request and receive a written determination whether,
due solely to impractical circumstances, the requirement for a community meeting should be waived by the Town Manager. At a minimum the request must explain why the applicant’s citizen participation plan provides other adequate, alternative opportunities for citizens to express any concerns, problems or issues they may have with the proposal in advance of the public hearing. The Town Manager shall make his or her determination a part of the written record in the case.
(F) The level of citizen interest and area of involvement will vary depending on the nature of the application and the location of the site. The target area for notification will be determined by the applicant after consultation with town staff. At a minimum, the target area shall include the following:
(1) Property owners within the public hearing notice area required by other sections of this ordinance;
(2) The head of any property owners’ association within the notice area required by other sections of this zoning code;
(3) Other potentially affected property owners outside of the legal notice area as determined by town staff; and
(4) Other interested parties who have requested that they be placed on a list of interested parties maintained by the town staff.
(G) These requirements apply in addition to any notice provisions required elsewhere in this zoning code.
(H) (1) The applicant may submit a citizen participation plan and begin implementation prior to formal application at his, her or their discretion.
(2) This shall not occur until after a pre-application meeting and consultation with town staff.
(Ord. 2012-04, passed 12-5-2012)