Whenever the public health, safety, comfort, morals, convenience or general welfare or good zoning practice require, the Common Council may by ordinance, after recommendation thereon by the Plan Commission and subject to the procedure provided in this subchapter, amend, supplement or change the regulations, district boundaries or classifications of property, now or hereinafter established by this chapter or amendments thereof. It shall be the duty of the Commission to submit its recommendations regarding all applications or proposals for amendments or supplements. An amendment, supplement, reclassification or change may be initiated by the Common Council on its own motion, by a petition of the Plan Commission or by a petition of the owners of 50% or more of the area proposed to be changed or affected by this chapter.

(Ord., passed - -79)

   (A)   Petitions for any change of the regulations or of district boundaries or classifications of property as shown on the Zoning Map shall be submitted to the Clerk of the Common Council at his public office, upon such forms, and accompanied by such data and information as may be prescribed for that purpose, so as to assure the fullest practicable presentation of facts for the permanent record. Each such petition for a change of district boundaries or a reclassification of property submitted by property owners shall be verified by at least one such owner attesting to the truth and correctness of all facts and information presented with the petition. Petitions for amendments submitted by the Commission shall be accompanied by its own resolution pertaining to such proposed amendment.

   (B)   Notice and hearing. Before submitting its recommendations on a proposed change of the regulations or reclassification of property to the Common Council, the Commission shall hold public hearing thereon, notice of which shall be given by one publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the city at least ten days before the date of such hearing. Such notice shall state the place and time at which the proposed amendment to the chapter, including text and maps, may be examined.

   (C)   Recommendation to Common Council. Following such hearing, the Commission may recommend that the application be granted as requested, or it may recommend a modification of the zoning change requested in the application, or it may recommend that the application not be granted. These recommendations shall then be certified to the Common Council.

(Ord., passed - -79)