The Zoning Commission shall hold a public hearing on all proposed changes in classification and written notices of all such public hearings shall be sent by the Secretary of the Zoning and Planning Commission on forms prepared by the City Attorney’s office to all owners of real property lying within 200 feet of the property on which the change in classification is proposed, such notices to be given, not less than ten (10) days before the day set for hearing to all such owners who have rendered their said property for City taxes as the ownership appears on the last approved City tax roll. Such notice may be served by depositing the same, properly addressed and postage paid, in the City Post Office. Where property lying within 200 feet of the property proposed to be changed is located in territory which was annexed to the City after the final date for making renditions which are included on the last approved City Tax roll, notice to such owners shall be given by publication on forms provided by the City Attorney’s office by publishing the same once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Bridgeport at least 15 days prior to the date set for hearing.

After such hearing, the Zoning and Planning Commission may, within its discretion, make one of the following recommendations in connection with each proposed change in zoning classification:

Recommend against the change in zoning.

Recommend a change in zoning.

Recommend a change in zoning for such areas together with its recommendations as to requirements for the paving of streets, alleys and sidewalks, means of ingress and egress to the public streets, provisions for drainage, parking spaces and street layouts and protective screening and open spaces and any other requirements, which within the discretion of the Zoning and Planning Commission will protect adjacent property and secure substantially the purpose and intent of the Zoning Ordinance.

Each such recommendation made by the Zoning and Planning Commission shall be by the Secretary of said commission reported to the City Council in writing and the applicant notified of the action of the Zoning and Planning Commission.

The Secretary of the Zoning and Planning Commission shall set up and maintain a separate file for each application received and shall record therein the names and addresses of all persons, firms and corporations to whom notices are mailed, including the date of mailing and the persons by whom such notices were delivered to the mailing clerk, Post Office, or mailbox, and all records and files therein provided shall be permanent and official files of the City of Bridgeport.

PROCEDURE BEFORE CITY COUNCIL: A public hearing shall be held by the City Council before adopting any proposed amendment, supplement or change, at which 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 once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Bridgeport; and after receiving the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission that the zone district be changed, or upon written request to the City Secretary by the applicant when a recommendation has been made against such change in zoning district, the City Secretary-Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to publish such notices on forms prepared by the City Attorney’s office and set the date for hearing before the City Council at the earliest practical time, consistent with the time necessary for giving such notices as provided by law.

When the Zoning and Planning Commission has recommended a change in zoning together with recommendations as to requirements as provided in this section the City Council shall be at liberty to either accept, reject or make other or additional requirements, and any such requirements, in the discretion of the City Council to be made, shall become a part of the ordinance changing the zoning classification of such property, and such requirements shall be considered as an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance as applicable to such property. Such requirements shall not be conditions precedent to the granting of the change in zoning or the granting of building permits on such property, but shall be construed as conditions precedent to the granting of a certificate or occupancy and compliance, and such requirements shall be complied with before a certificate of occupancy and compliance may be issued by the Building Inspector for the use or occupancy of the building, land or structure on such property.

In case the Zoning and Planning Commission has recommended against a proposed amendment, supplement, change or modification, or of a protest against such change, signed by the owners of 20 percent or more, either of the area of the lots included in such property change or of those immediately adjacent in the rear thereof extending 200 feet therefrom, or of those directly opposite thereto extending 200 feet from the street frontage of such opposite lots, such amendment shall not become effective except by the favorable note of four-fifths (4/5) of all the City Council.