Hickman County approves extra public comment step for zoning changes as draft land-use plan advances

Commissioners for the Hickman County legislative body voted to require two public-comment periods before the county can vote on changes to its zoning resolution and discussed next steps for a draft future land-use plan prepared with consultant Grisham Smith.

The change to the county process — adopted as resolution 25-22 — means an item that comes from the planning commission will receive a public comment period when it first appears before the county commission, then be posted for a full 30 days, after which commissioners will hold a second public comment period before any final vote. The measure passed 11–1 with two members absent.

Commissioner Paul Callicott, who led the presentation on the topic, described the difference between the county’s land-use plan and the zoning resolution: the zoning resolution is the enforceable law governing setbacks, permitted uses and subdivision standards, while the land-use plan is a guiding document outlining future growth areas and infrastructure priorities. “This is the law,” Callicott said of the zoning resolution, adding that the land-use plan is a separate “future” document meant to guide but not automatically change zoning.

Callicott outlined the process used to produce the draft: consultant Grisham Smith compiled infrastructure and demographic data, led four public engagement meetings in East, Pinewood, Shady Grove and Huron Center, and convened stakeholder meetings with utility districts and the school system. He said the state requires counties to update a land-use plan every 20 years and that Hickman County’s plan was produced with input gathered during those sessions. “It is a draft,” Callicott said, urging commissioners and residents to read the full document on the county website.

Callicott said the planning commission will begin discussion of the draft at its July 1 meeting (the commission meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m.). If the planning commission forwards a version to the county legislative body, the commission will place the item on a meeting agenda and — under the newly adopted resolution — hold two public comment periods before any vote to change the zoning resolution. He emphasized that adopting the land-use plan itself does not automatically change zoning; any revision to the zoning resolution must still follow the planning commission and public-hearing process.

The board also heard that Robert Axon, the county planning staff member, is retiring this month and that Austin Brown is slated to begin as planning and zoning director July 1. Callicott said Brown comes from the Jackson–Madison planning office and that commissioners will meet him once he starts.

Commissioners asked procedural questions during the discussion, including whether planning commission meetings could be livestreamed to increase public access; Commissioner Devin Pickard requested live streaming for the planning commission meeting, and county staff said they would check availability. Callicott also said the county would make sure the draft version that comes out of the planning commission is posted to the county website so residents can review the exact version that will be considered.

The commission’s action changes only the hearing schedule for zoning amendments; it does not alter the content of the zoning resolution or the draft land-use plan. Commissioners said the extra public-comment period is intended to give elected members time to research changes after hearing public input and to increase community notice and participation.

The planning commission will present the draft at its July 1 meeting; commissioners and residents may comment at planning commission meetings and then again if and when the item comes to the county legislative body under the new two-hearing rule.