Collierville adopts zoning public-notice consolidation, reduces routine newspaper ads in favor of web notices

On Feb. 10 the Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the second reading of Ordinance 2025-01, an amendment to Title 15 that consolidates public-notice requirements in the town's zoning code and reduces routine newspaper advertising where state law allows.

Planner Jamie Gross explained the amendment would consolidate public-notice requirements into a single section and codify several longstanding notice practices. Gross summarized six notice methods the town uses: newspaper advertisements (historically), a posted sunshine board at Town Hall, mailed postcards to property owners within prescribed distances, on-site public-notice signs for certain cases, an expanded use of the town's website for agendas and packets, and an interactive development-activity map. He noted the Tennessee legislature adopted a law in 2023 allowing municipalities to rely more on website notices and reduce newspaper publication requirements; the proposed ordinance would follow that law while continuing newspaper notices for items that state law still requires, such as rezonings and ordinance text amendments.

Gross said the Planning Commission recommended approval in January, and no members of the public addressed the board about the ordinance during the hearing. An alderman moved to approve the second reading; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with affirmative votes by Aldermen Stamps, Robbins, Hall and Jordan and Mayor Maureen Frasier. Gross told the board the ordinance would return as a third and final reading at the next meeting, after which the town could implement the consolidated notice procedures.