Amendments to the zoning ordinance, including the zoning map, may be initiated by the planning board on its own initiative or upon request by the city council or by a petition signed by not less than 25 registered voters of the city.

(Ord. of 9-21-2009, § 8.1A)

Each proposal to change the zoning map shall be made in writing and shall explicitly state the nature, extent, location and purpose of the map change proposed and shall be accompanied by a black line print of a diagram drawn to scale showing and stating clearly the dimensions in feet, the area, metes and bounds of the land proposed for a change and a sketch or other explicit identification of the general location and relationship of such land to some major neighborhood or other recognizable geographic segment of the city. Petitions shall be filed not less than 30 days prior to a regularly scheduled meeting.

(Ord. of 9-21-2009, § 8.1B)

Each proposal to change any zoning ordinance text (other than a change of zoning district name or zoning boundary description) shall include the wording then current, the words of change, the wording if so amended and a statement of the reasons for such change, showing how such change would affect the public health, safety, convenience and welfare.

(Ord. of 9-21-2009, § 8.1C)

Within 45 days of submittal of a completed petition to amend the zoning ordinance text or map, the planning board shall hold a public hearing thereon.

(Ord. of 9-21-2009, § 8.1D)

Notice of hearings shall be given in the manner provided for in division 3 of article XVII of this chapter.

(Ord. of 9-21-2009, § 8.1E)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Abutters means owners of property within 500 feet of the land under consideration are considered to be abutters.

(Ord. of 9-21-2009, § 8.2C)

The city shall publish in a newspaper having general circulation in the city, two public notices, the first notice at least 12 days before the hearing and the second notice at least seven days before the hearing. Each notice shall state the time, date, place and general subject to be heard.

(Ord. of 9-21-2009, § 8.2A)

Abutters, as defined in section 60-1473, shall be mailed a notice of a public hearing on an application for subdivision, site plan and/or special exception approval and amendments for this chapter at least 14 days prior to the hearing. The applicant, developer or petitioner shall be responsible for the cost associated with all mailed notices to abutters. The notice shall state the time, date, place, the general subject to be heard and a responsible party to be contacted for information. Notices shall be mailed to the address appearing on the city property tax listing. Failure of any abutter to receive such mailed notice of any such public hearing shall not necessitate another hearing and shall not constitute grounds for objections by such abutter or petitioner and shall not invalidate any action by the planning board. The applicant, developer or petitioner shall provide a list of abutters and their addresses at the time of application, plan or petition submission.

(Ord. of 9-21-2009, § 8.2B; Ord. No. 11-03012021, § 55, 3-15-2021)

The planning board shall, within 30 days of the conclusion of the public hearing, report in writing the results of the hearing and recommendations of the board on the amendment to the city council.

(Ord. of 9-21-2009, § 8.3)