Planning Boards, Commissions & Community Meetings
The purpose of the City’s planning and zoning boards and commissions is to ensure that development proposals are consistent with adopted zoning, development, and building regulations, as well as the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
Community Meetings
Before a rezoning, zoning modification, or use permit petition is filed, applicants are required to hold a community meeting, typically in the vicinity of the proposed project.
After a petition is filed, a second community meeting is held at City Hall.
Information regarding community meetings and active petitions is available on the Land Use Petitions Under Consideration page. The Zoning Cases Map may also be used to view petitions and associated meeting information.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission is an advisory board that reports its findings and recommendations to the Mayor and City Council.
The commission conducts hearings related to rezonings, use permits, concurrent variances, and amendments to zoning maps and ordinances.
Board of Appeals
The Board of Appeals is a quasi-judicial board responsible for hearing requests for variances from the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance.
The board bases its decisions on the merits of each application and applies the required review criteria consistently and objectively.
Mayor and City Council
Final decisions regarding petitions are made by the Mayor and City Council during regularly scheduled Mayor and City Council meetings.

