A Public Hearing is a special type of meeting, held by governing bodies when required either by State Law or County Ordinance, in order to both inform the public about pending actions and to solicit comment from the public about the action. Public Hearings are required to be held by the Planning and Zoning Commission for all Zoning Map, Text Amendment and Planned Unit Development applications. Major Subdivisions need a Public Hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission only when the Preliminary Plat is being considered. The Board of Adjustment holds Public Hearings for Variance and Special Exception applications.When a Public Hearing is required for an application, notice needs to be published at least 15 days before the hearing date in an official newspaper of the County. Official newspapers for Clinton County are the Clinton Herald and the DeWitt Observer. For applications which involve a specific property, all property owners within 500 feet of the property for which the application is filed are also notified by mail by the Zoning Office.At the Public Hearing, the applicant makes a presentation explaining the application and answers questions from the Board or Commission members. After the applicant has made their presentation, the Chair of the meeting will ask for comment from the public, first for comments of support for the application, then for comments opposed to the application. The applicant has the opportunity to present rebuttals to statements made at the Hearing. When the public has had the opportunity to speak, the Public Hearing will be closed, and the Board or Commission will then discuss the application. This discussion may happen immediately following the Hearing or at a later date. Following discussion, a vote will be taken to either approve or disapprove the application.