THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 4, 1994 TAG: 9408020140
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 09 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Don't try to make big speeches to the Planning Commission on Friday mornings anymore.
You'll be speaking to an empty room.
After decades of holding public hearings on the fourth Friday of each month, the commission is moving its meetings to Thursday afternoons.
``We think that it will be more convenient to the public,'' said William L. Craig Jr., chairman of the seven-member panel. ``When we meet on Friday mornings, quite often people who want to come before us take time off from work. Many of them end up missing the whole day.''
Public hearings are held in the City Council chambers on the 11th floor of City Hall.
By holding public hearings on Thursday afternoons, folks who want to attend can still go to work, at least for a few hours in the morning, Craig said.
``It might enhance the public's ability to attend,'' he said.
The move also should improve attendance among planning commissioners, some of whom run businesses, Craig noted. Commissioners are not paid for their planning work.
The commission also is moving its monthly semi-public work sessions from the mornings of second Fridays of each month to the afternoons of second Thursdays. Work sessions are held in the 5th floor conference room.
Also, Thursday afternoon sessions will allow more time for the professional planning staff to prepare reports for City Council, which meets on Tuesdays, said John Dugan, director of planning and codes administration.
The Thursday afternoon meetings begin in August with the following schedule for the rest of 1994:
Aug. 11, 1 p.m. regular work meeting.
Aug. 25, 1 p.m. regular work meeting, followed by 2:30 p.m. public hearing.
Sept. 8, 1 p.m. regular work meeting.
Sept. 22, 1 p.m. regular work meeting, 2:30 p.m. public hearing.
Oct. 13, 1 p.m. regular work meeting.
Oct. 27, 1 p.m. regular work meeting, 2:30 p.m. public hearing.
November and December public hearing dates will be affected by the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Nov. 10, 1 p.m. regular work meeting.
Nov. 17, 1 p.m. regular work meeting, 2:30 p.m. public hearing.
Dec. 8, 1 p.m. regular work meeting.
Dec. 15, 1 p.m. regular work meeting, 2:30 p.m. public hearing. by CNB