Planning staff brought a finalized public‑noticing policy to the Corte Madera Planning Commission on Nov. 19, proposing a tiered system of enhanced outreach for larger development proposals, including on‑site signage for qualifying projects.

Staff said the policy grew from a work‑plan action and comparative review of neighboring jurisdictions, and that the principal change relative to current practice is a structured approach to on‑site signs for higher‑impact proposals. The policy uses a five‑tier matrix tying sign size and number to project scale and site characteristics, and recommends including a rendering on large signs. Staff also proposed evaluating a 500‑foot noticing radius in some cases while retaining the municipal code’s 300‑foot standard where applicable.

Commissioners praised elements of the draft (community newsletters and the town reader board) and proposed refinements: make the 500‑foot radius explicit for tier 2 where appropriate, require applicants to certify sign installation with a staff checklist and site verification, and clarify whether hearings should be postponed if required signage is not in place. Staff said the policy is a guideline (not yet codified) and will be applied consistently; if signs are damaged or removed applicants would be required to replace them and staff would evaluate whether a hearing should be delayed on a case‑by‑case basis.

Staff recommended the commission accept the policy for posting and implementation as a guideline and to alert the Town Council the staff work plan item is complete. The commission provided several editorial requests and asked staff to return a final draft that clarifies radius and signage enforcement language for inclusion in the final policy posting.

What’s next: Staff will post the policy on the town website, incorporate commissioner edits (sign‑installation certification, guidance on when to use 500‑ft), and notify the Town Council that the work‑plan item is complete.