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Commission considers switching legal public notices to Ohio public‑notice website to save costs
Summary
A commissioner raised a state-law change creating a free statewide public‑notice website; the commission discussed replacing paid newspaper ads for legal public notices, retaining abutter/neighborhood notices, and pursuing a code amendment to permit the state website with a phased transition.
Commissioners discussed a proposal to shift legally required newspaper public notices (for planning commission and Board of Zoning Appeals public hearings) to the Ohio public‑notice website established by recent state action. The item was introduced at the March 5 meeting to solicit comment before staff prepares an amendment to Norwood’s code.
The requester said the state site is free to use and that moving notices there could save the city “tens of thousands of dollars” a year in publication costs. Staff confirmed the change would not replace neighborhood notification requirements (postcards or abutter notices required for hearings) and noted that the zoning code currently specifies newspaper publication. To adopt the state site for legal notice, the city would need to amend its code language to reference the new public‑notice website in place of the newspaper requirement.
Commissioners suggested a phased approach. One member recommended running notices both in the state website and the newspaper for a transition period and, separately, running an announcement advising the public that the city will use the state public‑notice website going forward. Planning staff said they could prepare the code amendment and a draft announcement and return with the change for the commission’s recommendation.
No formal motion was required or taken at the meeting; staff will prepare an amendment and a public‑notice plan for the commission to consider at a future meeting.
