(a)

Purpose. The purpose of community engagement is to:

(1)

Ensure that applicants pursue early and effective citizen participation in conjunction with their applications, giving them the opportunity to understand and try to mitigate any real or perceived impacts the proposed project may have on the community.

(2)

Ensure that citizens have an adequate opportunity to learn about projects that may affect them and to work with applicants to resolve concerns at an early stage of the review and decision-making process.

(3)

Facilitate ongoing communication between the applicant, interested citizens, city staff, appointed and elected officials throughout the application review process.

(4)

The community engagement meeting is not intended to produce complete consensus on all applications, but to encourage applicants to be good neighbors and to allow for informed decision-making.

(b)

Applicability.

(1)

Every application for the following projects shall include evidence of a community engagement meeting, which must be conducted at least 14 days prior to the first public meeting conducted by the city, changes to the application as a result of the community meeting do not require subsequent community meetings:

a.

Any development that requires a comprehensive plan future land use map and/or zoning amendment of lakefront property from a residential use to a commercial use, mixed-use, medium-density residential use, or high-density residential use.

b.

Any development that requires a comprehensive plan future land use map and/or zoning amendment that changes the use of property from a residential category to a non-residential category, except that this subsection does not apply to changes from a residential use to a public, quasi-public or recreational use.

c.

Any development that requires a comprehensive plan text or map amendment or Land Development Code amendment that increases the maximum allowed residential units per acre (density) or floor area ratio (intensity) by more than 25 percent from the existing maximum allowed residential units per acre or floor area ratio; in evaluating floor area ratio increases for the purposes of this provision, parking garage square footage is included.

d.

Projects with a residential component of 25 or more residential dwelling units, regardless of density.

e.

Any project with a total building size 18,000 square feet or greater.

f.

Any project requiring a conditional use that is adjoining or directly across the street from any residential property.

(c)

Community meeting notice requirements. In addition to the required notice requirements provided under chapter 58, article III, zoning, section 58-89(c)(2), all applicable projects must provide written notice of the time and place of such meeting and the proposed action to be taken shall be mailed to all owners of record of property within 500 feet (including the city's planning and zoning department) of a proposed project at least 15 days prior to the community meeting. The applicant must provide the list of properties that the notice was sent to the planning and zoning department along with a signed affidavit that the notices were sent.

(d)

Community meeting location requirements. The community meeting shall take place at a location within the city limits, in a location that is easily accessible to the public (i.e. public library, church, or community center).

(e)

Evidence of meeting. Evidence of a community engagement meeting shall be submitted to the planning and zoning department to be included within the planning and zoning board's agenda packet within ten days of the first public hearing and must include:

(1)

Information demonstrating how the public was noticed consistent with the courtesy notice procedures set forth in subsection (c) above. The applicant's notice shall clearly:

a.

Designate the party sending the notice; and

b.

State the times and dates of the scheduled public meetings being conducted by the city.

(2)

A copy of the written notice that introduces the application and describes the impact it may have on the surrounding properties. A copy of the site plan and building elevations, if part of the application, shall be available at the community engagement meeting. The notice should include: a contact name, phone number, address where parties may address questions and location of the community engagement meeting.

(3)

A community engagement meeting sign-in sheet that indicates the number of people in attendance.

(4)

A report including the following information, at a minimum:

a.

Summary of the substance of concerns, issues and problems expressed during the process.

b.

Description of how the applicant has addressed, or intends to address, the concerns, issues and problems expressed during the process.

c.

Identification of concerns, issues and problems the applicant is unwilling or unable to address, if any, and a statement as to why the issue cannot or will not be addressed.

(Ord. No. 3301-24, § 1, 7-10-24)