Placement: Public Hearing - Non Quasi Judicial
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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P26-186 City of Port St. Lucie Text Amendment to Sections 158.258, 158.298, & 158.318 - Public Notice Requirements
Location: N/A
Legal Description: N/A
This is a request to amend Chapter 158 of the City of Port St. Lucie Zoning Code to authorize the publication of required public hearing notices on the official website of St. Lucie County, or another publicly accessible website authorized under Chapter 50, Florida Statutes, as an alternative to publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Submitted By: Bethany Grubbs, AICP, Senior Planner/Public Art Program
Executive Summary: This City-initiated text amendment updates Chapter 158 of the Zoning Code to establish online publication of Planning and Zoning Board public hearing notices in accordance with Chapter 50, Florida Statutes. Newspaper publication remains available if the County's platform is unavailable or otherwise required by law.
Presentation Information: Staff will provide a presentation.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Board recommend approval of the proposed text amendment to the City Council.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Board amend the recommendation and approve the text amendment.
2. Move that the Board not approve the text amendment and provide staff direction.
Background: The City previously updated its procedures for publishing City Council legal advertisements to utilize St. Lucie County's publicly accessible website, as authorized by Chapter 50, Florida Statutes.
The public hearing notice requirements for special exceptions, variances, and rezonings, however, are codified in Chapter 158 of the Zoning Code and still require publication in a newspaper of general circulation. The proposed amendment updates these Zoning Code provisions to establish publication on the official website of St. Lucie County as the primary method of legal notice publication in accordance with Chapter 50, Florida Statutes. Newspaper publication would remain available if the County's online publication platform is unavailable or otherwise necessary to comply with applicable law. Retaining this option ensures the City maintains a compliant alternative without requiring a future text amendment.
Issues/Analysis: The proposed amendment updates the legal notice requirements for special exceptions, variances, rezonings, and other zoning-related public hearings notices governed by Chapter 158 of the Zoning Code. The County's online publication platform would become the primary publication method, while newspaper publication would remain available as a backup when needed. Retaining newspaper publication as a backup ensures the City maintains a compliant without requiring future code amendments if online publication becomes unavailable.
Special Consideration: N/A
Location of Project: N/A
Attachments:
1. Staff Report
2. Exhibit “A” - Sec. 158.258
3. Exhibit “B” - Sec. 158.298
4. Exhibit “C” - Sec. 158.318
5. Fla. Statutes Chapter 50.0311
6. Staff Presentation