How to Get Property Rezoned

As citizens in most cities and towns become more familiar with the rezoning process and learn how rezoning affects their neighborhoods, builders and developers must initiate and perform additional duties and due diligence to get any property rezoned. In addition to the paperwork, public hearings and public relations skills will be needed. Take a few of these tips before attempting any kind of rezoning application.

Instructions

1. Study the current laws and zoning requirements of the town in which you wish to request the rezoning. It is much easier to place a rezoning request that falls within all the current government guidelines that are in place than to stray outside those parameters.

2. Get an application from the town's city manager's office. Filling out the paperwork properly is tantamount to a quick review by the planning commission. Get the deadlines and find out when the board meets so you can have all the filing done in plenty of time to receive a decision and stick to your own planning deadlines.

3. Rent a local church or community building in the neighborhood where you are requesting the rezoning. By taking the initiative to meet the neighbors and listening to their concerns, you can limit the amount of protesting that may follow the government's public hearing. Public hearings are required by law and will have very low attendance if the neighbors and grassroots activists know and trust you as a developer.

4. Advertise your meeting heavily. Personally contact the community leaders to include business people, church leaders and conservationists. These people are typically in the news on a regular basis and are easy to find.

5. Provide food and drink at your meeting and remain open to questions and concerns. Neighborhood activists can smell a defensive posture, so be as friendly and open as you can. Enlist the support of a few notables prior to the meeting and make sure they are present.