Macon Reporter

City of Decatur issued the following announcement on Nov. 21.

City of Decatur is seeking committed and community-minded volunteers to fill several vacancies in its Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals.

The Decatur City Plan Commission is an eleven-member advisory body with its community members appointed by the Mayor and City Council. The Commission’s primary role is to provide a forum for public hearing of petitions for rezoning of property, Conditional Use Permits, vacation of public rights-of-way, and amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. It then provides summary recommendations to the City Council which makes final decisions on those petitions. The Commission typically meets on the first Thursday of each month at 3:00 P.M. in the City Council Chamber.

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is a seven-member quasi-judicial body appointed by the Mayor and City Council. The Board’s primary purpose is to consider and decide on petitions for variances where the applicants would experience hardship or practical difficulties related to the subject properties when specific requirements of the Zoning Ordinance must be met e.g. building setbacks and building height. Certain other powers are also granted by the Decatur Zoning Ordinance e.g. interpret and clarify the location of zoning district boundaries, and permission for larger accessory structures. Unlike the Plan Commission, all decisions of ZBA on the petitions are considered final. The Board typically meets on the second Thursday of each month at 4:00 P.M. in the City Council Chamber.

The City of Decatur appreciates those who would like to invest their time to serve the community without compensation. With terms of three (3) years, volunteer community members for both the Plan Commission and ZBA must reside within the Decatur City limits. If interested in serving on either of these public bodies, please complete and submit an application form, downloadable from:

https://www.decaturil.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Board-and-Commission-Application-Form.pdf

Please contact Scott Dedert, Senior Planner at (217) 424-2786 or Joselyn Stewart, Transportation Planner at (217) 424-2782 for any additional information.

Original source can be found here.