Columbus, Georgia

PROCEDURES BEFORE THE PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION



Applications for changes in the zoning classification of real property

located in Muscogee County are heard first by the Planning Advisory Commission.

This seven-member (plus two alternates) commission hears each application and,

after hearing, makes a recommendation to the Columbus Council for the approval

or denial of each application.



The Planning Advisory Commission meets on the first and third

Wednesdays of each month at 10:00 o?clock a.m. in the Council Chambers located

on the Plaza Level of the Government Center (time and day are subject to

change). This document sets out the procedures for hearings held by the

Commission.



A. Prior to the commencement of a meeting of the Planning Advisory Commission,

all persons in attendance shall sign a roll on a form provided by the Planning

Division of the Consolidated Government. Persons who wish to speak in favor of

or in opposition to a rezoning application pending for consideration by the

Planning Advisory Commission shall indicate the application on which they

desire to speak and whether they wish to speak in favor of or in opposition to

that application. Only those persons who sign up to speak prior to the

commencement of the hearing shall be entitled to speak, unless the members of

the Planning Advisory Commission shall otherwise agree. To avoid unnecessarily

lengthy, duplicative presentations for or against a rezoning application,

neighborhood groups must choose no more than two persons as their

representatives to speak on behalf of the neighborhood.



B. The Chair of the Commission will then call the meeting to order. One member

of the Commission shall be designated as the timekeeper to record the time

expended by each speaker. Each hearing will be held in the order listed in the

published agenda for that day?s meeting. Cases will normally be heard in the

order in which the applications were filed. The Chair will begin each hearing

by calling the rezoning application?s case number, giving a synopsis of the

application and the name of the applicant. After calling the case, the Chair

will call upon a representative from Planning Division to read the Planning

Division?s Findings of Fact regarding the rezoning application.



C. After the presentation of Findings of Fact by Planning Division, the

applicant or the applicant?s representative may make a presentation in support

of the rezoning application under consideration. This presentation may include

the introduction of evidence by way of written documentation or testimony from

witnesses. The presentation shall not exceed ten (10) minutes in length unless

the Commission, on the vote of a majority of members and alternates voting on

that case, shall agree to extend the applicant?s time. The applicant may

reserve a portion of the applicant?s time for rebuttal.



D. At the conclusion of the applicant?s presentation, the Chair shall call upon

each person who has signed up to speak on the rezoning application then under

consideration. The Chair shall first call upon those who wish to speak in favor

of the application and then upon those who wish to speak in opposition to the

application. Both groups will be called in the order in which the persons

signed the roll. Prior to speaking, each speaker shall identify himself or

herself and state his or her current address.



E. Each speaker may make a presentation in support of that speaker?s position

regarding the rezoning application under consideration. This presentation may

include the introduction of evidence by way of written documentation or

testimony from witnesses. The presentation shall not exceed ten (10) minutes in

length unless the Commission, on the vote of a majority of members and

alternates voting on that case, shall agree to extend the speaker?s time. At

the conclusion of all presentations by speakers in favor of or in opposition to

the rezoning application under consideration, the applicant may give a

rebuttal, as the applicant?s unused time may permit.



F. Each speaker shall speak only to the merits of the rezoning application then

under consideration. Each speaker shall address his or her remarks only to the

members of the Planning Advisory Commission. Each speaker shall refrain from

personal attacks on any other speaker or the discussion of facts or opinions

irrelevant to the proposed zoning decision under consideration. The Chair may

limit or refuse a speaker the right to continue, if the speaker, after first

being cautioned, continues to violate this subsection.



G. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Chair from

conducting each hearing in an orderly and decorous manner so that the public

hearing on the rezoning application is conducted in a fair and orderly manner.



H. No person may contact any member or alternate of the Planning Advisory

Commission for the purpose of attempting to influence in any way that member?s

views or vote on any rezoning application to be considered by the Commission.

The public hearing described in these procedures is the only proper method to

present arguments in favor of or in opposition to any rezoning application.

Contacting a member or alternate of the Commission outside of the public

hearing is unethical and may likely result in the disqualification of that

member or alternate from any participation in the hearing or decision of that

case.