Speaking Before the Commission

All speakers are urged to fill out Speaker Cards in advance of approaching the commission. Such cards will be provided next to the Planning and Zoning staff and at the speaker podium. In the interest of time and to affect the most meaningful effort, the commission encourages the use of a designated group representative when possible.

Those attending are also asked to mute their cell phones during the meeting. If additional comments come to mind after the public hearing, you may submit them in writing to the Community Development Department, Division of Planning and Zoning. Comments must reach the Planning and Zoning Division within 1 week of the public hearing to be placed in County Council Agenda Packet.

Order of Speakers 

• Planning and Zoning Staff: The County Planning and Zoning staff will give a staff recommendation. The recommendation will outline what the petitioner is requesting and how the proposal relates with the future land use map, the St. Charles County Unified Development Ordinance and surrounding uses.
• Petitioner (10 Minutes): The party requesting the rezoning or conditional use permit, including the principal speaker and supporting consultants, is allowed this interval for an uninterrupted presentation of facts. The petitioner’s presentation may include Power Point slides, charts and other visual aids as desired.
• Supporting Speakers (Other than Petitioner): 
  • Person(s) designated as a group speaker – 5 minutes (represents more than 5 persons)
  • A person speaking as an individual – 2 minutes
• Opposition Speakers: 
  • Person(s) designated as a group speaker – 5 minutes (represents more than 5 persons)
  • A person speaking as an individual – 2 minutes
• Commission Questions: The commission may question any speaker.  Such questioning period by the commission will not be subtracted from the speaker’s allotted time.
• Response of the Petitioner (5 Minutes): This period of time is allowed only for the petitioner or authorized representative(s) to respond to public comments, not to introduce a new presentation.
  • It is not customary to reopen the questioning procedure during this period

Regular Meeting

After the Public Hearing portion of the meeting is closed, the Planning and Zoning Commission will begin its regular meeting. At that time, they will deliberate and vote on items heard at the public hearing.

In some instances the hearing on an application may be continued and/or the deliberation on a case delayed until the next regularly scheduled meeting by the concurrence of 3 commissioners on a one-time basis. Additional hearing and/or deliberation continuances shall require the majority vote of the commission.

To obtain the most benefit from your presentation, the commission urges your consideration of the following:

• Address the Commission: Please face and direct all comments to the commission. Speak into the microphone. Turning around to respond to the audience serves no purpose, makes it difficult for the commission to understand your statements and detracts from your speaking time.
• Avoid Repetition: The commission does carefully consider and take notes on each presentation. Repetition by the initial speaker or following speakers, in support or opposition, usually serves only the purpose of prolonging the hearing and uses up allotted speaker time. Please remember, seconding speeches or comments do not further advise the commission of facts affecting the petition.
• Avoid Overkill: Overkill or oversell is not helpful; the only usual result is taking of more time. Frequent situations of this type include excessive description of the surrounding properties and zoning far beyond what actually affects the site in question.
• Summary Comments: Please keep in mind that the commission is interested in full disclosure of information relative to each petition. The intent of the preceding advisory comments is to avoid unnecessary explanatory time or “sidetracking.” Should you have any particular questions on the details of a petition pending before the commission, please contact the Division of Planning and Zoning staff at 636-949-7335.