House Bill 691 Summary

• Revises notice requirements for special use permits to require individual mailed notice to property owners within 300 feet of the property, with expanded notice distances for height-allowance permits (3 times the structure height if over 100 feet, or 1 mile if 400 feet or more in unincorporated areas).

• Removes mandatory mailed notice requirement for height-allowance permits in Section 1, replacing it with discretionary notice provisions that can be satisfied through display advertisements when 200 or more property owners must be notified.

• Establishes new Section 2 to allow exceptions or waivers of zoning ordinance standards (other than use) through either special use permits or administrative processes specified by local ordinance, subject to conditions authorized under existing permit provisions.

• Declares an emergency for Section 2, making it effective upon passage and approval and applying retroactively to all permits and approvals granted prior to the effective date, while validating previously approved special use permits where appeal deadlines have expired.

• Makes Section 1 effective July 1, 2012, with a provision that damage claims related to permit changes are not extinguished by the bill's provisions.