Public notices help citizens stay informed about changes in their communities. Local governments often must hold public hearings before attempting to make any change which will impact the local community. Laws in almost all jurisdictions require local governments to publish notice of these hearings in local newspapers. These laws are intended to make sure that the citizens affected by the proposed government action are given the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process. Public notices equip local residents with the information they need to support or oppose local government actions.
A good example of this is found in notices of public hearings dealing with zoning changes. Many jurisdictions require local governments to hold public hearings, and to publish the date, time and location of those hearings when any exemption from zoning ordinances is requested by a citizen or business, or when a planning commission or board recommends changes to a master plan.
Local governments are often required to publish a detailed public notice of exactly what land will be affected by a zoning change accompanied by a map of the land. This occurs on a routine basis, and often there are no objections to minor changes or exemptions. However, sometimes individuals or businesses petition local governments for major variances which could affect surrounding property values, or the overall atmosphere of the neighborhood.
For example:
• Homeowners in a residential area may request a variance in order to operate a business in their homes.
• Owners of large parcels of land in residential areas may ask local governments to rezone the entire area as commercial, in order to take advantage of competitive commercial leasing rates.
• Homeowners may wish to add additions to their homes that encroach upon set-back limits for residential yards.
If citizens have strong feelings on the granting of these requests, they can attend the public hearing and voice their opinions to local officials. This demonstrates participatory democracy at its finest. Governments use public notices to inform the public of its valuable chance to participate in the democratic process.