People living in the vicinity of a proposed land-use change now will be notified in advance of any hearings on the matter under a uniform standard recently adopted by the Clintonville Area Commission.

The new policy was approved by 7-0 vote at the commission's meeting earlier this month. The District 8 post currently is vacant; District 1 representative Rob Wood was absent.

Chairman Dan Miller said notifications to residents and property owners within 125 feet of any "requests for rezoning, variance, graphics and other zoning adjustment appeals and special permits," as the proposal stated, were not being notified of any hearings at which they might wish to weigh in on the matter in a consistent fashion.

Traditionally, Miller said, when the head of the zoning and variance committee received an application, it was forwarded to the CAC member in whose district the parcel is located. That individual then was in charge of providing notice to surrounding property owners -- but Miller said there was no specific time frame within which notification was supposed to take place.

The policy he proposed at the September meeting is based on procedures in place for the Board of Zoning Adjustment and other city agencies, Miller told fellow commission members.

"Before any meeting of the zoning and variance committee at which an application or request for rezoning, variance, graphics or any other zoning adjustment appeal or special permit will be heard or decided, the zoning and variance committee shall provide written notice of the time and place of such meeting," the policy states.

Although it permits the district representative to deliver notification "by mail, by hand, by leaving a copy of the notice in a conspicuous location at the person's residence of place of employment, or by leaving a copy of the notice at the person's residence or place of employment with someone of suitable age and discretion," the new procedure specifies it must take place seven days in advance of any hearing.

That seven-day period is in effect not only for commission hearings but also those at the BZA, under a suggestion put forth by District 9 representative D Searcy.

The notices are to go out to the owners of property within 125 feet of the exterior boundaries of the subject parcel or parcels.

Miller suggested the new policy may be incorporated into the CAC's bylaws at a later date.