The Plan Commission must hear..

• Amendments to Maps and Ordinances
• Planned Unit Developments
• Plat Amendments
• Zone Map Changes
• Subdivisions and Amendments

The Board of Zoning Appeals must hear...

• Variances
• Special Exceptions
• Use Variances
• Appeals of the Director's Decision

You have been notified that a public hearing is going to occur that may be of interest to you. You have received this notice because you are a neighbor within 300' of the subject piece of land that will come up for discussion before the Jasper County Plan Commission or Board of Zoning Appeals. You and anyone else interested in the proposal have two options for voicing your concerns at this hearing: you can speak in person at the meeting or you can submit your written concerns to the petition's file through the office of Planning and Development.

Speaking in person:
Persons who wish to voice their concerns need to appear at the meeting. You may wish to contact staff and/or review the proposal at the Planning & Development Office before outlining your concerns.

Documents Submitted to the File:
Written concerns regarding a proposal will be accepted into the file up to the day of the hearing. These written documents will be entered into record and read aloud at the hearing.

The Plan Commission Chairman or the President of the Board of Zoning Appeals directs all public hearings, whichever is hearing the proposal. The Board/ Commission members have received a Staff Report in advance of the meeting. This report is prepared by the Planning Department Staff and thoroughly analyzes the proposed project, how it complies with the Comprehensive Plan and the current standards of the Zoning and/or Subdivision Control Ordinance, and discusses pertinent issues and public comment submitted to the file.

Usually the public hearing will open with the Chairman/President calling the meeting to order and calling for the first order of business.

The applicant, or his representative, is then given time to present his proposal in detail.

The Chairman/President will then open the floor to anyone in the public wishing to speak in favor of or against the proposal. The applicant takes down all the questions and concerns from the public and is then allowed time to answer or rebut all of the questions raised.

The Chairman then closes the hearing and allows the Commission or Board Members to ask questions of the applicant. The Board/Commission will then make a motion for one of the following:

• Approve/make favorable recommendation.
• Deny/make unfavorable recommendation.
• Continue the petition for further deliberation.

Rezoning
If a recommendation has been made by the Plan Commission regarding a zoning amendment, the proposal is then forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners who then make the final decision at their public meeting.

Site Development Plans
Decisions made by the Plan Commission regarding site development plans are Final unless an appeals filed through the courts.

Subdivisions & Plat Vacations
Decisions made by the Plan Commission regarding subdivisions are final unless an appeal is filed through the courts.

Variance or Special Exception
Decisions made by the Board of Zoning Appeals regarding a variance or special exception is final unless an appeal is filed through the courts.

Tabled or Continued
A petition may be tabled or continued if additional information is needed before the Board /Commission can make a decision. If this occurs, the project will be heard at the next regularly scheduled meeting or a future meeting determined by the Board/Commission. Area neighbors are NOT re-notified of a continued hearing.