Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Board Rules topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Franklin Zoning Board adopts clearer hearing rules for adjournments and display of plans
Summary
The Franklin Township Zoning Board voted to adopt amendments to its bylaws clarifying when adjourned hearings must be renoticed and requiring professional applicants to display plans on meeting screens; the change passed after brief discussion and one dissenting vote.
The Franklin Township Zoning Board of Adjustment on a split vote adopted revisions to its bylaws that clarify renotice rules for adjourned hearings and require applicants represented by professionals to present application materials on the meeting’s display screens.
Board staff described two substantive changes: new language aligning the board’s practice with the planning board so that if an applicant who has been noticed appears but the hearing does not conclude, the board can set the continued date and time without requiring a new public notice; conversely, if an applicant repeatedly fails to appear, the applicant would be required to renotice. The other change requires professionals with site plans, architectural drawings or other exhibits to come prepared to display them on the municipal meeting screens rather than relying on small hand-held boards.
Chairman Thomas said the policies are intended to help the public and the board follow cases when hearings stretch over multiple meetings. A board member said the renotice provision is “to help the public know when…these hearings are rescheduled” and avoid confusion when matters are repeatedly carried. Another member noted the screen-display rule is intended to avoid poor visibility of small exhibit boards.
A motion to adopt the amended rules was made and carried; one board member recorded an opposition. The board directed staff to make the language and transmittals to applicants explicit so applicants are not surprised if they are not permitted to proceed without conforming materials.
The revisions take effect immediately as board policy and will be reflected in the ZBA bylaws distributed to applicants and posted with packet materials.
