Brian C. Schmidt

Thank you to everyone who has signed and shared this petition about the proposed rezoning. I appreciate that so many residents are getting involved.

As a Planning Commissioner, I have to stay impartial on any zoning case until I’ve heard from both the applicant and the public. That way every side gets a fair hearing before a decision is made. I will take the concerns raised here, including how the proposal fits with the surrounding area, into consideration as part of that process.

It may help to know how the process works. After the public hearing, the Commission can delay its decision until the next public hearing, which is usually about 30 days later. That gives everyone time to revise, revisit and negotiate.

Getting organized and sharing well-reasoned concerns is the right approach, and it helps us make our decision. If you plan to speak at the hearing, I’d encourage your group to choose one person to represent you and cover all the issues. When many people speak and repeat the same points, the time can run out before every concern is heard.

The property owner also has rights, including the right to sell the land for the best price they can get. That doesn’t mean we set aside our Unified Development Code (UDC) to allow it. Finding the balance between the two is where compromise happens.

If I can be of further help, please reach out.

Brian C. Schmidt
District 3 Planning Commissioner
Forsyth County Department of Planning & Community Development

[Note: The Change.org Civic Engagement Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received regarding this petition.]