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Board moves to require affidavits and photos proving sign posting at hearings
Summary
The board agreed to require petitioners to sign an affidavit at the hearing and attach photos of posted signs; members discussed requiring timestamps and allowing a replacement photo if a sign is knocked down.
The Board of Appeals agreed Dec. 19 to add verification measures to its posting requirements: petitioners would sign an affidavit at the start of the hearing affirming required posting and would attach photos of each sign as part of the record.
Chair Jean Ryan presented the change as a way to make compliance verifiable in the absence of newspaper advertising. "On the day of the hearing, the party that posted it is signing in front of us," she said, describing the affidavit as "entered into the official record as a preliminary matter on the day of the hearing." The proposed rule would require two original signed affidavits and printed photos of the posted signs, which staff would keep on file.
Board members favored adding a timestamp requirement for photos and discussed allowing petitioners to submit a replacement photo if weather, vandalism or other events caused a sign to be temporarily absent. Members also proposed putting affidavit language in the petition packet so applicants see signing obligations early in the process. The board asked staff to craft precise affidavit language (including an explanation field for any interruptions) and to include instructions from DPZ about correct sign placement.
The board said the measures are intended to aid the board's substantive review—helping members determine whether the notice burden was satisfied and whether a hearing should proceed or be continued.
