How to Oppose Rezoning in Your Area
You should raise concern to the authorities when your neighborhood is being rezoned. The developer should be answerable to the authorities for their rezoning acts. It does not matter whether it is a private developer or the local government that is used only in your region because it is your right to oppose the rezoning. There are many negative consequences of rezoning such as traffic, a decrease in the value of the property, more people make the area congested, noise, safety issues, and more. There are some steps to take to prevent rezoning.
The rules and regulations of your state outline the appropriate procedural requirements that you must adhere to when opposing the rezoning initiative. You will get a written notice from the developer to inform you about the proposed zone changes, deadlines that are applicable, and upcoming hearings. When you receive a notice, you should find out the procedural requirements that you need for you to apply for a review of the zoning ordinance. If the zoning ordinances are not clear, you should contact a land-use attorney. The attorney will help you not to miss important hearings and deadlines because that may make you lose the right to appeal. Familiarizing yourself with the procedure requirements will ensure that a developer and the city follow the rules.
Under the zoning ordinance if the applicant should show that rezoning is consistent with any applicable comprehensive plan for the region. A comprehensive plan involves a general plan that directs the future development and use of the land. The applicant will be denied if the proposed zone changes not consistent with the comprehensive plan. The applicant should also show that there is a need for a zone change, the change is consistent with surrounding uses of the land, and it is consistent with the development of public services. You should know these facts for you to find out weaknesses that can help you to argue and demonstrate that the applicant did not comply with all or any of the approval criteria. The land-use attorney will help you to determine if the applicant adhered to the applicable laws and regulations of the zoning ordinance.
You should also get more information about procedural and substantive requirements for applying zone change request to show that you are opposing the proposal. Host neighborhood meetings to find out the opinions of other residents in the area about the proposal. You need the song vocal group so that you can influence the decision-makers who are the city council, hearings officer, county board, and the planning commission. The vocal opposition group will be able to influence their proposal because zone changes are political in nature, and decision-makers may be concerned with influencing the results of the next elections.
Speak out against the proposal in the scheduled public hearing because that will preserve your right to happen when you participate in the hearing. You need not be physically present because you can submit written testimony through your land use attorney. Put up a petition together as an opponent that has signatories.