15A NCAC 07L .0506. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

(a)  Local Governments receiving DENR funding for CAMA land use plan preparation shall be responsible for the development and implementation of a Citizen Participation Plan.  Local governments shall employ a variety of educational efforts and participation techniques to assure that all socioeconomic segments of the community and non-resident property owners have opportunities to participate during plan development.

(b)  Extent of Required Effort.  Prior to the start of CAMA land use plan development, the local governing board shall develop and adopt a Citizen Participation Plan.  Interested citizens shall have an opportunity to participate in the development of the CAMA land use plan through oral and written comments as provided for in the Citizen Participation Plan.  Copies of informational CAMA land use plan materials shall be provided at all meetings of the planning group.  The Citizen Participation Plan shall be available to the public throughout the planning process.  At a minimum, the Citizen Participation Plan shall include the following:

(1)           Designation of the principal local board, agency, department or appointed group that shall take the lead role in preparing or updating the CAMA land use plan, including a contact name, address, and telephone number.

(2)           A specific date and time for an initial public information meeting or series of meetings.

(A)          During the meeting(s) a local government updating its plan shall discuss the statements of local policy in the current CAMA land use plan, the effect of those policies on the community, and the ways the plan has been used to guide development during the past planning period.  The local government shall explain the process by which it will report to the public and solicit the views of a wide cross-section of citizens in the development of updated policy statements.

(B)          Written notice of the public information meeting(s) shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the planning jurisdiction twice prior to the public information meeting(s).  The first notice shall appear not less than 30 days prior to the public information meeting(s).  The second notice shall appear not less than 10 days prior to the meeting.  Notice of the meeting shall also be conveyed to local Coastal Resources Advisory Council (CRAC) member(s) and to the appropriate DCM District Planner.

(C)          The local government shall offer an opportunity for public comment during the public information meeting(s).

(D)          The tools to be used to report planning progress to the public during CAMA land use plan development, such as newspaper reports, local government newsletters, radio or television announcements or other reporting methods shall be described at the initial public meeting.  More than one means is required.

(3)           A description of the methods and techniques that shall be used to solicit public participation and input, such as citizen surveys, questionnaires, informational brochures, community outreach, town meetings or other pro-active methods.  The Citizen Participation Plan shall describe the results that are expected from the methods and techniques that are used. More than one means is required and at least one effort shall be made to solicit input from non-resident landowners.

(4)           A general outline of the meeting schedule for the group developing the CAMA land use plan, as designated in Subparagraph (b)(1) of this Rule.

(c)  All regular meetings of the designated planning group where the CAMA land use plan is discussed shall offer time on the agenda for public comment.  A list of the names of speakers offering public comment and a copy of any written comments provided shall be kept on file by the local government and provided to the DCM staff for use in the CAMA land use plan review process.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113A-112; 113A-124;

Eff. August 1, 2002.