[HISTORY: Adopted by the Planning Board of the Town of South Hadley 1-14-2019; amended 4-22-2019. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
Applicants (and/or their representatives) must make requests to continue a scheduled public hearing in a timely manner.
A. 
If such a request is received by the Office of the Planning and Conservation Department at least 72 hours[1] (excluding weekends and Town Hall recognized holidays), the Planning Board will grant the continuation without the applicant or their representative being present.
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original.
B. 
If such a request is received by the Office of the Planning and Conservation Department less than 72 hours[2] (excluding weekends and Town Hall recognized holidays), the Planning Board will consider the request at the scheduled time of the public hearing but the applicant and/or their representative must be present. If the Board denies the request, the public hearing will proceed as scheduled and the Board will reconsider the request after the public hearing has been reopened and persons present for the hearing are given an opportunity to comment on the subject of the public hearing.
[2]
Editor's Note: So in original.
C. 
Whenever such a request is received by the Office of the Planning and Conservation staff, the staff will make reasonable efforts to provide public notice of the request and how it relates to this policy. These efforts will entail, as time and resources permit, posting of the request on the Town's website's calendar and agenda pages, emailing the various departments that are notified of applications for review, and mailing of notices to the certified abutters by regular mail.
D. 
However, if the applicant requests such a deferral/continuation for more than two consecutive scheduled public hearings on the application, the applicant (or their authorized representative) shall attend the Planning Board hearing, at which time they may request the deferral/continuation and explain the detailed reasons why the hearing needs to be deferred/continued. If the Board denies the request, the Board shall immediately open the hearing. The Board will make an exception to this requirement if the reason for the request is due to the Town departments/consultant not having completed their review of the application, or if one or more members of the Planning Board have indicated they are unable to attend the public hearing, or Town Hall is to be closed unexpectedly at that time.