ORDINANCE NO. ______________, SERIES 2021
TITLE
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE TIME AND LOCATION OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARINGS DURING STATES OF EMERGENCY
BODY
SPONSORED BY: COUNCIL MEMBER CINDI FOWLER
WHEREAS, the Legislative Council of the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government (the "Council") has closely observed the meetings of the Policies and Procedures Committee of the Louisville Metro Planning Commission (the "Planning Commission") concerning changes to its By-Laws in light of the ongoing COVID-19 Crisis and related States of Emergency; and
WHEREAS, the changes being discussed concern Section 153.03 of the Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances ("LMCO") and the process colloquially referred to as "Night Hearings"; and
WHEREAS, Night Hearing requests are important indicators of both citizen desire to participate in the public hearing process for a proposed project and public perception regarding the scale of a proposed project's impact; and
WHEREAS, the Council believes the proposed changes, even if limited to emergency circumstances, carry significant weight, requiring the interests of residents, developers, Planning and Design staff, the Planning Commission, and others be carefully balanced; and
WHEREAS, the Council also believes that Public Health is of paramount concern during the pendency of the ongoing COVID-19 Crisis; and
WHEREAS, some of the most important steps consistently recommended by leading health experts to combat the spread of COVID-19 are social distancing and the wearing of masks; and
WHEREAS, the Governor of Kentucky had restricted public gatherings to various degrees throughout the COVID-19 Crisis because of the serious Public Health risks associated with such activity; and
WHEREAS, Night Hearings have historically garnered large crowds, often exceeding one hundred people, and holding such meetings during the COVID-19 related States of Emergency puts the health and safety o...
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