Commission schedules April 29 session to continue ordinance rewrite; members debate notification approach
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Summary
Bay City planners set a special April 29 meeting to review a draft zoning ordinance and debated how the city should notify property owners about zoning changes — options discussed included postcards with QR codes, an online zoning lookup tool and traditional mailings for residents without internet access.
Bay City Planning Commission members on April 15 scheduled a special meeting for April 29 to resume review of a draft zoning ordinance and discussed outreach strategies for informing property owners about zoning changes.
Staff member Terry Moltain told the commission the full draft ordinance was circulated and that the April 29 meeting will focus on moving the draft forward so it can be recommended to the City Commission. Moltain asked commissioners to submit prioritized written comments to staff the week before the meeting so the consultant (identified as Joe) has time to prepare responses.
Several commissioners raised questions about the scope of the rewrite and specific items in the draft, including the elimination of the "O1 Office" district and reassignment of those properties into mixed-use categories. Commissioners said they want clarity on what property owners will be notified of and how many addresses might be affected.
Discussion turned to public outreach and legal notice requirements. Commissioners and staff considered multiple approaches: sending targeted postcards with a QR code directing residents to an online zoning lookup tool, publishing legal notices in the newspaper, and offering phone or in-person assistance for residents who are not online. Planning staff and Adam said an internal zoning lookup tool already exists and could be made public after the ordinance update is adopted.
Commissioners emphasized the need to balance cost and effectiveness: postcards are less expensive than individualized mailings, but some residents rely on non-digital methods. Commissioner Sheila Turbot noted that not everybody uses computers, while others suggested phone support and a simple request process for residents seeking confirmation of their zoning.
Staff and commissioners agreed the consultant should receive prioritized comments in advance so the draft can be discussed productively at the April 29 session.
