Resident questions CRA about rezoning, variances and public notice for Delicone site

Roger Whiting of 1103 Second Avenue North addressed the CRA during the courtesy of the floor to ask how to learn about meetings and public notices for zoning actions affecting a property the speaker called “Delicone.” Whiting said he attended a May meeting to hear about the zoning request but instead saw design details such as awning color and was not able to follow the rezoning and variance discussion. “I'm here to discuss the minutes that you're getting ready to approve from the May 14. That was I was here at that meeting. I didn't fill out speaker card because I thought I was gonna get to hear what was being done as far as the zoning went, not the design of the building, the color of the awnings,” Whiting said. Staff responded that workshops provide information and Q&A but do not include votes and are not always required to be posted in the same way as regular meetings. Staff told Whiting that all agendas are available on the city’s website and that the public-notice tab lists rezonings and the meetings they will appear before; notices are mailed to property owners within a 300-foot buffer and the city places notices in the required newspaper (the Daily Record, since the Beaches Leader no longer prints). Staff emphasized that public hearings are the formal venue for public comment on rezoning actions. Whiting asked how to find future meetings; staff directed him to the city website’s public-notice tab and reiterated that workshops may not be listed because they are not required to be posted in the same way, while regular meetings and public hearings will be listed. The exchange closed without further action; staff suggested attendees follow the public-notice listing and contact staff for questions.