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Board reschedules two Wallace Road hearings after staff finds missing mailed‑notice receipts
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Summary
The Hammond City Board of Zoning Appeals rescheduled public hearings for Z26‑08 and Z26‑09 after staff said it could not confirm certified mail receipts for 13 required property‑owner notices; the city attorney advised reissuing notices and the board voted to set the hearings for the next meeting.
The Hammond City Board of Zoning Appeals on a motion rescheduled two related hearing items — Z26‑08 and Z26‑09, petitions for minimum lot‑area reductions for properties on Wallace Road — after staff reported missing proof that all required certified notices had been mailed.
Staff told the board that 119 certified letters were paid for and sent but the office is missing the post‑office white slip receipt for 13 property owners, which prevents proof that the required mailings were completed. "We cannot confirm those were sent properly," a staff member said, and the city attorney advised that without that proof there was no valid notice and the hearings could not proceed that night.
The board discussed logistical options and a motion was made to reschedule the public hearings for Z26‑08 and Z26‑09 to the next Board of Zoning Appeals meeting so petitioners could reissue notices and provide documentation. The roll‑call vote on that motion was recorded as four yes votes with one absence. Staff said all new letters will include the confirmed meeting date once it is finalized and that petitioners should resend notices for all affected properties.
Board members and staff also took a public question about the notice process; staff reiterated that reissuing the notices and documenting mailed receipts is necessary to proceed with the public hearings. The rescheduling preserves the petitioners’ right to a properly noticed hearing and avoids decisions made without required public notice.
