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1. Who can sign up for NNI (Neighborhood Notification Initiative) notifications?

Anybody may sign up to receive notices for any of the registered neighborhoods or overlay areas through the Neighborhood Notification Initiative.

2. What kinds of projects are sent through the NNI?

Email notifications are sent for projects placed on agendas managed by the Planning Department. These include Hearings Board, Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Commission and Plans Review agendas. Notices are also sent for proposed demolitions and relocations.

3. What information is included in NNI notifications?

Notices list the project address, a description of proposed work, contact information for the applicant, and information about the property (zoning, location map, historic district, NNI categories). The date and time are listed for the monthly Hearings Board, Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Commission public hearings and the weekly Plans Review administrative meetings.

4. When do I receive NNI notifications?

This varies depending upon the application deadline. The Hearings Board, Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Commission have monthly deadlines. Plans Review deadlines occur every Tuesday. Projects that are submitted by a deadline are placed on the appropriate agenda and notices about projects on that particular agenda are emailed at that time, typically several days after the deadline. Demolition and relocation notices are sent as applications are submitted.

5. What is the difference between NNI neighborhoods and overlay areas?

NNI neighborhoods are formed when a neighborhood registers to participate in the NNI and a contact person is designated for the group. The contact person receives early notification for projects that submit applications to the Planning Commission. Overlay areas include commission districts, road corridors and the downtown area and do not have a designated contact person.

6. What is early NNI notification?

Applications submitted to the Planning Commission (Rezones, Planned Developments and Special Uses) require a pre-application conference with staff at least two weeks prior to the next application deadline. If these projects fall within the boundary of a registered neighborhood, early notification is sent to the designated neighborhood contact person to encourage communication between applicants and neighborhoods in advance of submittal deadlines. Sometimes applicants do not move forward with the application process after their pre-application conference. As such, early notification is only sent to the neighborhood contact person to forward on to their neighborhood as they see fit.

7. Will my email address be accessible to all members of the NNI?

No. You may contact the NNI coordinator for more information about a notice, but replies cannot be addressed to the entire NNI. Many neighborhoods have their own listserv groups for communication with neighbors through web services like Yahoo Groups or Google Groups.

8. How do I register my neighborhood with the NNI?

Fill out a registration form and turn it in to the Planning Department along with a map of the neighborhood boundaries and a copy of your neighborhood's organizational documents (articles of incorporation, by-laws, covenants, etc.). If your neighborhood does not have an established organizational structure, a petition signed by at least 20% of property owners or residents endorsing the group formation and the designated contact person substitutes for the organizational documentation. The GIS staff in the Planning Department can help create the boundary map. The NNI coordinator will forward this information to the ACC Commissioner representing the district the neighborhood falls within. With their endorsement, the Mayor and Commission will vote on the official registration and mapped boundaries of your neighborhood organization. Once the neighborhood is mapped, anyone may sign up to receive notices for projects within and adjacent to the neighborhood's boundaries.

9. Who defines the boundaries of a neighborhood for the NNI?

Neighborhood boundaries are often organic and can change over time depending upon the age of the neighborhood, changes in surrounding development, and perceptions of its residents; therefore, it is entirely up to neighborhood organizations to establish their own boundaries as they see fit. Sometimes these delineations correspond directly to original subdivision plats, but just as often they may not. Talk to your neighbors about how boundaries are perceived.
Because boundaries are self-defined for participation in the Neighborhood Notification Initiative, there are no exclusionary rules. Boundaries of different neighborhoods may overlap, or smaller neighborhoods may form entirely within the boundaries of a larger group.

10. When is a petition required to register a neighborhood with the NNI?

When a group is just beginning to form to participate in the Neighborhood Notification Initiative and does not have an established leadership structure or organizational history, a petition endorsing the group's formation is required. This step is important to ensure that a reasonable consensus exists regarding the proposed boundaries and to designate a contact person. At least 20% of the residents or property owners within a proposed boundary area should sign the petition. If a proposed neighborhood area includes 100 properties, signatures from at least 20 properties should be included.