Collierville planning commission endorses ordinance to modernize public‑notice rules; shifts emphasis to town website
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Summary
The Planning Commission recommended approval of Ordinance 2025‑01, which consolidates public‑notice requirements in the zoning code and increases reliance on the town website and subscription alerts permitted by a 2023 state law change.
The Collierville Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of Ordinance 2025‑01, a zoning‑code amendment that consolidates public‑notice requirements and expands the town’s use of its website and subscription alerts in place of some newspaper notices.
Jim (staff) and Jamie Gross presented the proposal and said the change responds to a 2023 state law that allows municipalities to use official websites in lieu of newspaper publications for many notices. Gross said the planning division already posts agendas, packets and meeting recordings online and that the proposed ordinance would codify and expand that practice, while keeping statutory newspaper notices where state law still requires them (for example, certain annexations and ordinance‑level hearings).
Under the measure, the code would add a central public‑notice section and a table showing notice types required for specific application categories. The ordinance keeps town practices the commission and staff consider important: postcard notices to nearby property owners for rezoning or conditional‑use hearings and on‑site signs for certain cases. Staff said Germantown implemented a similar change without problems and that reducing newspaper ads could save municipal funds.
Commissioners asked whether notice would be reduced; Gross said the town is not removing notices that staff currently self‑imposes and intends to expand online outreach and subscription alerts. After brief discussion, a motion to recommend approval of Ordinance 2025‑01 was made and seconded. The roll call recorded unanimous approval. Angela called the roll and recorded affirmative votes from Commissioners Green, Goddard, Jordan, Rosansky, Fletcher, Givens, DuBose and Cotton.
The measure will go to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for final consideration through the town’s three‑reading ordinance process. Staff said legal and the town clerk will continue to review the ordinance language before BMA consideration.