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What's the rule on a zoning administrator marking on an applicant's drawing to help illustrate the request?

Edward Erfurt

This question was asked in the member facebook group and is worth sharing here:

What's the rule on a zoning administrator marking on an applicant's drawing? I have an applicant who needs to highlight their property for a rezone, but they're having trouble because the basemap is too dark. I can draw on top with colored lines on a pc. Also, I'd prefer a more detailed map for the record. Can I make my own map with more detail, confirm with the owner it matches their request & then transmit that to council as a clarifying document.

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  • Comment author
    Edward Erfurt
    • Official comment
    There is no rule that would prevent you from assisting a citizen in having a more clear application. Especially if the application is intended to express an idea like demonstrating extents of a property or the location of the parcel on the city map. This is not the case for construction drawings prepared and sealed by a licensed architect or engineer.
     
    I really appreciate this question because this is coming from the place of helping someone that is struggling. 
     
    Let's Apply the Strong Towns 4-Step Process:
    1. Humbly Observe where someone is struggling: A well intentioned citizen does not have the tools or understanding how to denote a property for a zoning application
    2. What is the next smallest thing we can do right now? In this example you could print out the GIS or Plat map of this location and draw a colored boundary around the lot. You could also scan or copy the plat so that it is lighter and easier to read.
    3. Do that thing, do it right now: If this graphic is intended to represent and convey information, and it helps expedite the process, do it. This is something that you can do quicker than trying to explain to a citizen how to do it. 
    4. Repeat: If this is a continued or reoccurring problem, you might want to remove the map as a requirement for the applicant and just complete the map as part of your staff report. 

    A couple lines on a page may not seem a lot to a plan reviewer or municipal staff, but this may be an insurmountable struggle for a citizen that makes one zoning application in a lifetime. 

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