Public hearings - What is their purpose?

The purpose of public hearings is to provide an opportunity for citizens to provide and recieve information associated with decisions to be made by the Planning Commision, Historic Preservation Commission, Zoning Hearing Officer and City Council. These governing bodies rely on the information gathered at the public hearings to provide a comprehensive view on how the proposed development or rezoning will impact the entire community. Public hearings are not intended to be confrontational or an intimidating process, but are intended to gather valuable information to aid in the decision-making process.