With interactive mapping and easier-to-read notifications, zoning cases in Garland have become simpler to follow.
Staff has been working with the City Council and Plan Commission to improve the zoning notification process by providing clearer, more informative and transparent information to the public.
That includes non-English speakers. Full translation in Spanish and Vietnamese has been added to contact letters — the notifications to nearby properties when a zoning change is proposed. Staff has also removed some of the technical jargon from the letters, within legal limits, in an attempt to make them easier to understand. And we’ve left more space for the neighbors’ written comments.
But you don’t have to live within a certain distance of a property to weigh in at GarlandPlanning.org, the online home for these cases. Click on “Active Zoning Cases” and you’ll be routed to a map of the city that features all current zoning cases. Click on any of the marked properties and you’ll receive background information on the case and the ability to register your comments on the proposal. As with the letters, the information is available in three languages.
In an effort to make sure people notice where new zoning is proposed, Garland is also placing more noticeable signs on the properties themselves. At least two bright green signs with large black lettering will be found at sites with active zoning cases. Those signs include a quick response (QR) code which links a user to GarlandPlanning.org and information about the case.
For more information, call 972-205-2445 or visit GarlandPlanning.org.