The City of Brookings will roll out its new public notification system for all private development projects within the City Limits beginning next week. The system will include an option for citizens to sign up for automatic notification via e-mail through the City website.
“The notification will be updated every Friday afternoon; it will be posted on our website and at City Hall. Information posted will include the address, a brief description of the project and the anticipated date of approval” said Building Official LauraLee Snook. “The comment period will be at least 10 days and may be longer for complex projects” said Snook.
According to Planning Manager Donna Colby-Hanks, “Applications generally fall into two categories; those which have outright use in their zone and are only reviewed by the City Site Plan Committee for compliance with the Brookings Municipal Code, and those uses which require a land use action, such as parcel divisions or conditional uses that are forwarded to the Planning Commission for compliance to State and City planning laws”.
Currently, Planning Commission actions require that a notification be sent to all surrounding property owners within 250 feet of the proposed project and a public hearing is required. The new system will also notify City residents of new developments that are allowed as an outright use in their zone.
“Hopefully, this system will give citizens advance notification of any development happening in their neighborhood. Citizens are encouraged to get involved by sending comments to the Public Works and Development Services Department”, said Mayor Ron Hedenskog.