(a)

Whenever the public necessity, convenience, general welfare or good zoning practice requires, the Mayor and Council may, after recommendation by the planning and zoning commission and subject to the procedure set forth in this article, amend, supplement or change the regulations, district boundaries or classifications of property now or hereafter established by this chapter or amendments thereof. Such amendment, supplement or change may be initiated by resolution of the Mayor and Council, by motion of the planning and zoning commission or by petition of any property owner or contract purchaser addressed to the Mayor and Council.

(b)

The Mayor and Council hereby expresses its recognition of the fact that sections of the community are changing from a rural to a residential, commercial, industrial or other character, and, although an attempt has been made in the comprehensive plan to anticipate and direct such growth along desirable lines, it is inevitable that no such plan can be perfect or everlastingly valid. It anticipates, therefore, that the comprehensive plan will need amending from time to time, as contemplated and authorized by Md. Ann. Code art. 66B, § 3.05, and that the zoning map must also be amended from time to time in order that it may continue to be in conformity with such comprehensive plan, as required by Md. Ann. Code art. 66B, §§ 4.02, 4.03, 4.04 and 4.05.

(Code 1977, § 107-72; Ord. No. 2000-10, 9-25-2000)

(a)

Any proposed amendment, supplement or change originating with or received by the Mayor and Council shall first be referred to the planning and zoning commission for investigation and recommendation. The planning and zoning commission shall cause such investigation to be made as it deems necessary and for this purpose may require the submission of pertinent data and information by any person concerned, may hold such public hearing as are provided by its own rules and shall submit its report and recommendation within 60 days unless an extension of time is granted.

(b)

After receiving the recommendation of the planning and zoning commission on any proposed amendment, supplement or change and before adopting such amendment, the Mayor and Council shall hold a public hearing in relation thereto, at which hearing parties in interest and citizens shall have an opportunity to be heard. At least 15 days' notice of the time and place of such hearing shall be published in a paper of general circulation in the community once each week for two successive weeks. The first notice of the hearing shall be published at least 14 days before the hearing. The property in question shall be posted conspicuously with a notice of the hearing.

(c)

No substantial change in or departure from the proposed amendment as recommended by the planning and zoning commission shall be made unless the same be resubmitted to said commission for its further recommendation.

(d)

The Mayor and Council may impose such restrictions, conditions and limitations with regard to the proposed amendment, supplement or change as conferred by Md. Ann. Code art. 66B upon the county commissioners.

(e)

A filing fee shall be charged for processing an application for a change in zoning, as may be determined by the Mayor and Council.

(f)

Every application for a change in zoning district boundaries shall be accompanied by a plat drawn to such scale as the planning director shall require, showing the existing and proposed boundaries and such other information as he may need to enable him to properly locate and plot the amendment on the official zoning map. It shall be the duty of the planning director to change the official zoning map promptly upon the adoption of any amendment so that there will always be an up-to-date public record of the zoning districts.

(Code 1977, § 107-73; Ord. No. 2000-10, 9-25-2000)