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Johns Creek BZA Adopts New Rules for Appeals and Evidence Deadlines
Summary
The Johns Creek Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously adopted revised rules and procedures to clarify appeal party status, presentation order, recording/streaming, and evidence-notice timelines (7- and 14-day windows); staff cited an upcoming appeal in July.
The Johns Creek Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously on June 1 to adopt revised rules and procedures intended to clarify how appeals are handled, who counts as a party, and the deadlines for submitting evidence.
Planning staff said the draft updates were modeled on neighboring jurisdictions and required by the zoning ordinance (Chapter 22) to provide clearer guidance for procedural matters. Key changes include a formal definition of parties for appeal hearings (appellant, the city and property owners or other parties with ownership interest), a fixed order of presentation that places the city's report after the appellant's case, and explicit timing for public comment and rebuttal. Under the draft, parties receive 10 minutes each in hearings; non-party public commenters are allotted three minutes each within a combined 10-minute public-comment umbrella.
The rules also address evidence submission: people who intend to present documentation or evidence must submit materials to staff 14 days before a hearing so the board packet can include materials, while parties who only intend to speak are asked to notify staff seven days ahead so staff can manage logistics. Board members debated whether to require 14 days for all notice or keep the two-tiered approach; staff said emails and late material received after the packet is released will be forwarded to board members and that the policy can be adjusted if it proves impractical.
Staff noted the changes also clarify that recording and livestreaming of meetings are allowed as long as the recording does not disrupt proceedings, and reaffirmed that the board operates under Robert's Rules of Order. Planning staff said the revisions respond in part to an administrative appeal expected in July concerning pickleball courts in the Queensbury neighborhood and that the board will notify identified parties as the calendar is set. Mr. Yee moved to adopt the resolution; Ms. Wieben seconded and the board approved the resolution with no opposition.
Staff announced the next BZA meeting on July 21, which will include a setback encroachment case and an administrative appeal; the board could consider further edits to the procedures after additional experience under the new rules.
