The City of Jackson’s Planning and Zoning Commission has set a public hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 14, regarding a potential clarification to Chapter 65 (zoning) of Jackson’s code of ordinances.
The change was proposed by city staff after residents of Broadridge Subdivision brought up issues regarding the wording of the code earlier this year and when letters should be sent out by the city when changes to the zoning code. The residents specifically opposed how changes to the O-1 professional office zoning were handled in 2009.
The proposed changes to the code clearly state there are two types of amendments to the zoning code, including rezoning amendments and text amendments. Rezoning amendments deal with changes to specific properties or approving special use permits. Text amendments are changes to the zoning regulation in the code of ordinance.
With rezoning amendments, residents within 185 feet of a zoning change are sent a letter before the amendment is approved to voice any concerns to the commission.
Because the text amendments are not connected to a specific property, no letters have been sent out during these deliberations. The city is only required to post a notice regarding the proposed amendment in a local newspaper.
While that will stay the same if the change is approved, Building and Planning Superintendent Janet Sanders said she hopes this change will make that fact more clear.
“We wanted to add some more language to the code so that it is clear not only to the city attorney and the city staff, but to anybody who would read the code,” Sanders said.
According to Sanders, the city attorney wrote the language changes.
The public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. on Nov. 14 at 101 Court St. in Jackson.
