Board debates notice windows and agency coordination for BOA hearings

Board members debated how to codify notice requirements in the revised rules. One member suggested listing all agencies to receive notice; others preferred a generic requirement to "notify relevant agencies" and tailoring notifications to each application. Julie Peterson, community development staff, explained current practice: "When we get an application in, we send it to the town it is in... they are aware that the application has been submitted to our office almost immediately within for sure within a week of us receiving it," and that formal hearing notices are published later when the item is scheduled.

Members also discussed the DNR's statutory notice window for certain shoreland and riverway matters. Julie and staff noted that while the rules can be more general about notifying relevant agencies, some notifications (DNR in Riverway cases) require at least 30 days. The group expressed a preference for a 30-day standard for general agency and township notification, rather than as short as one week, to give towns time to review applications.