Court Opinion

ID: 9853821
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:55:33.11711+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:20:08.967818
License: Public Domain

Fletcher, Presiding Justice,
concurring.
I agree that local zoning authorities must hold a public hearing after a superior court remands a zoning case for a new zoning decision, but disagree with the specific requirement that the City of Cumming must rezone the property in this case within 30 days. Given that the Zoning Procedures Law requires the zoning authority to advertise the hearing in a local newspaper at least 15 days in advance and many communities have only a weekly newspaper, the short time frame here leaves little time for a meaningful process. Since the purpose of the Zoning Procedures Law is to “assure that due process is afforded to the general public” in zoning matters, I believe that the city should be given a reasonable time, such as 90 days, to hold a second public hearing. Under the facts of this case, however, I cannot say that the trial court has abused its discretion and thus concur in the judgment.