Here at RALtoday, we report on a lot of development news and rezoning updates — typically once the applications are in or once they’ve been approved. After one of our editors recently attended her first neighborhood meeting for a rezoning proposal impacting Cameron Village, we started wondering: what are the next steps for the landowners, and how long will it take?
It turns out, rezoning is a multi-phase process and can take from a few months to a few years, from start to finish.
1️⃣ Attend a pre-application conference: This free meeting is held to help applicants understand use and zoning conditions prior to beginning the rezoning process.
2️⃣ Host a first neighborhood meeting: Rezoning applicants must invite property owners up to 500 feet from the intended rezoning site + initiate and facilitate a conversation regarding the impact of proposed rezoning plans.
3️⃣ Submit application: The initial application must be submitted within six months of the first neighborhood meeting. Fees vary greatly based on use and can be found here.
4️⃣ Staff review: City policy staff members review all materials, provide comments, and may request additional documents. This process takes between 10 and 24 business days to complete.
5️⃣ Host a second neighborhood meeting: A second neighborhood meeting is required for properties with 5+ acres or those with proposed zoning of more than 5 stories. The meeting must be held at least 30 days after the completion of staff review and rezoning applicants must invite property owners up to 1,000 feet from the site.
6️⃣ Planning commission review: Within 45 days of application completion, the City’s planning commission will review the application with consideration to staff and public comments + make a recommendation to the City Council. Commission meetings are held twice each month and are open for the public to attend and provide feedback.
7️⃣ City Council public hearing: Within 60 days of receiving a recommendation from the planning commission, the City Council will schedule a public hearing — to take place during a regularly scheduled council meeting. Rezoning applicants and members of the public are invited to provide feedback, present comments in favor of the project, or share concerns and arguments against rezoning of a particular site. At this time, the City Council will render a final decision, defer the case, or recommend consideration to a subcommittee for further deliberation. You can track current development activity and rezoning applications here.
