Your public comment at a land use hearing can go a long way when it comes to land use decisions. As a land owner, future land owner, or someone who uses the land, you may have experiences and insights that no one else has. Giving public testimony at a public hearing is a great way to help make policy well-informed.
You can enter your testimony in writing (by the deadline for written comments), or vocally at the hearing. Here are some tips to make your public testimony beneficial and persuasive, even if public speaking isn’t your favorite. Keep in mind, you will probably only have a few minutes to speak.
Preparation
- Before the meeting, be sure to research what changes are on the table. Search the municipal website (like Bonner County’s current project page here, or Sandpoint’s current project page here) and become familiar with the specific land use project application, if that’s what your commenting on. Review our tutorial on how to research a current project if this is unfamiliar territory.
- If you have a lot of facts or examples, you can put them in writing and submit a copy to each of the committee members, but this is not necessary.
- Write your comments out prior to the meeting, and practice them until you can cover them while making eye contact with the committee members.
- Come early to the meeting. This allows you to sign up to comment early, if sign up is required, and provides you with the background discussion.
While speaking
- Identify yourself and where you live.
- If there are multiple decisions on the table, be clear which ordinance and change you are commenting on.
- Be brief. Limit your speaking to about three minutes — you are likely to be timed and limited to three minutes anyway.
- Say what is most important to you first.
- Use personal stories, but do not make personal comments about committee members or opposing parties. Disrespectful comments are not effectively heard.
- If your comment is the same as someone before you, either try to adapt your comment so that you offer new insight, or just state that you are in agreement with the change or the person who spoke before. It is good to state your stance, but not necessary to repeat lengthy points.
You can also watch our workshop covering effective comments here and see our comment handout here.