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Observations and Opportunities: Housing Markets
This week for Observations and Opportunities, we asked realtors about what they are seeing in multi- and single-family markets.
May 6, 2020
Connections and relationships, though physically distanced, are more important than ever.
Democracy relies on the ability of people to participate in decision making. The coronavirus has changed how communities conduct this process for land use applications and public hearings. We asked Patricia Nilsson how Canyon County has adapted to meet requirements for engagement while keeping people safe and planning and development moving forward.
How has Canyon County’s land use application process been affected by COVID-19?
We had to pass an emergency ordinance to provide a different process for neighborhood meetings. For the next six months, applicants will hold a “neighborhood comment period” where they provide a mailed notice to property owners within the notice radius (600’ in Canyon County). Information on the proposed project must be provided by either attaching a document to the email or providing a website where they can review the proposed project. The letter also must include an email and/or mailing address where comments can be sent. At the end of the comment period, the applicant submits copies of all the comments received with their application to the County.
While some jurisdictions have waived or suspended the requirement to hold a pre-application neighborhood meeting, Canyon County values the input from neighbors and felt it was important to provide an alternative process for their participation.
While COVID was devastating to our local and national economy, our office had the highest April revenues in three years… Our ability to provide permitting and inspection functions meant that architects, project managers, engineers and trades people could keep working.
Patricia Nilsson
Canyon County Development Services Director
How has the public hearing process been affected by COVID-19?
The County had to choose a virtual platform to conduct public hearings. Our IT department chose WebEx as it was the only option that met our security standards. Once the requisite licenses were obtained, training needed to occur with staff and elected officials involved in the hearing process. All of the applications that had already been scheduled for March, April and May hearings had to have the public notification redone to include instructions on how to participate using WebEx. That delayed most applications by at least a month as we still were required to meet statutory requirements for all elements of public notice – letter to surrounding property owners, agency notification, legal notice publication in the newspaper, and property posting.
What have you learned from the COVID-19 experience?
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