Planning commission recommends advertising-timing amendment to mayor and council

The Brookhaven Planning Commission voted on Wednesday to recommend TA-2607, a zoning text amendment that aligns local advertisement timing with state law and removes the planning commission as the timing reference in the local newspaper-advertising window.

Staff said the change corrects an inconsistency introduced in 2023 when planning commission timing unintentionally remained in the published schedule, creating a mismatch with the state's 15–45 day advertising requirement tied to the final decision-making body (mayor and city council). "When we put that in there, the Planning Commission was accidentally left in the document and mathematically that does not work," a staff member said, explaining the need to strike planning commission timing so the schedule meets state requirements.

Several commissioners expressed concern that mirroring the state-advertising schedule could shrink the notice period before a planning-commission meeting and make it harder for members of the public to prepare testimony. Staff responded that cases must still come before the planning commission for recommendation and that the amendment only adjusts the newspaper/sign-posting timing to conform to state law.

Commissioner Kevin Court moved that the planning commission recommend approval of TA-2607 to the mayor and city council; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The commission advised staff to continue internal practices to circulate information early where feasible so the public has adequate opportunity to review proposals ahead of planning commission hearings.