CHAPTER I
What kind of development needs a public hearing?
In Glynn County, three general categories of development proposals require a public hearing. These are:
A Rezoning is necessary when a person, partnership, or private company ("the applicant") wants to change the zoning of a particular piece of land. The applicant must either own the land or be specifically authorized by the owner to request the change in zoning. All land in Glynn County is zoned for industrial, commercial, office, residential, agricultural, public, or conservation use. A Rezoning requires a public hearing by the appropriate Planning Commission and a public hearing by the Board of Commissioners. Staff makes a recommendation to the Planning Commission, which in turn makes a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners makes the decision, and may either approve the change, deny it, or approve it with conditions.
The Special Use Permit (SUP) procedure provides for certain uses which cannot be well adjusted to their environment in particular occasions with full protection offered to surrounding properties by rigid application of the district regulations. Examples are telecommunications towers or daycare facilities. A unique category of Special Use Permit includes mobile homes allowed as a second dwelling on a property as a temporary (usually two years) use in a hardship situation. As with a Rezoning, a Special Use Permit requires a public hearing by the appropriate Planning Commission and a public hearing by the Board of Commissioners. Staff makes a recommendation to the Planning Commission, which in turn makes a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners makes the decision, and may either approve the change, deny it, or approve it with conditions.
A Zoning Variance is a request to deviate from the strict standards of the Zoning Ordinance, and is subject to strict restrictions. A Zoning Variance may only be granted if the zoning rules create a hardship, which in turn prevents the reasonable use of the property. Also the hardship must not be “self imposed,” and must result from a characteristic which is unique to the property (i.e.: a characteristic that is not shared by other nearby properties).
We also post signs (smaller, 18” by 24” white signs) for properties that are involved in the review of a Site Plan. While these projects appear on the agenda of one of the Planning Commissions, and the tradition is to take comments, they are not officially pubic hearings.
In Glynn County, three general categories of development proposals require a public hearing. These are:
- Rezonings (including Planned Developments and Text or Master Plan revisions to existing Planned Developments) - these are posted with large (24” by 36”) yellow signs
- Special Use Permits - these are posted with large (24” by 36”) yellow signs
- Zoning Variances - these are posted with large (24” by 36”) white signs
A Rezoning is necessary when a person, partnership, or private company ("the applicant") wants to change the zoning of a particular piece of land. The applicant must either own the land or be specifically authorized by the owner to request the change in zoning. All land in Glynn County is zoned for industrial, commercial, office, residential, agricultural, public, or conservation use. A Rezoning requires a public hearing by the appropriate Planning Commission and a public hearing by the Board of Commissioners. Staff makes a recommendation to the Planning Commission, which in turn makes a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners makes the decision, and may either approve the change, deny it, or approve it with conditions.
The Special Use Permit (SUP) procedure provides for certain uses which cannot be well adjusted to their environment in particular occasions with full protection offered to surrounding properties by rigid application of the district regulations. Examples are telecommunications towers or daycare facilities. A unique category of Special Use Permit includes mobile homes allowed as a second dwelling on a property as a temporary (usually two years) use in a hardship situation. As with a Rezoning, a Special Use Permit requires a public hearing by the appropriate Planning Commission and a public hearing by the Board of Commissioners. Staff makes a recommendation to the Planning Commission, which in turn makes a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners makes the decision, and may either approve the change, deny it, or approve it with conditions.
A Zoning Variance is a request to deviate from the strict standards of the Zoning Ordinance, and is subject to strict restrictions. A Zoning Variance may only be granted if the zoning rules create a hardship, which in turn prevents the reasonable use of the property. Also the hardship must not be “self imposed,” and must result from a characteristic which is unique to the property (i.e.: a characteristic that is not shared by other nearby properties).
We also post signs (smaller, 18” by 24” white signs) for properties that are involved in the review of a Site Plan. While these projects appear on the agenda of one of the Planning Commissions, and the tradition is to take comments, they are not officially pubic hearings.