Review by Planning Commission. All amendments to this chapter must be reviewed by the City Planning Commission. Amendments may take the form of a City Council proposal, staff-initiated recommendations or citizen petitions, for either zoning text or zoning district boundary changes. In any event, the Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing as provided in Act No. 207 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1921 (MCL 125.581 et seq., MSA 5.2931 et seq.), as amended. After the public hearing has been closed, the Planning Commission shall submit a report and recommendations to the City Council on the proposed change.

Notice of hearing. Whenever the Planning Commission holds a public hearing to consider a proposed change in the zoning district boundaries, a written notice of such time and place for a public hearing shall be mailed to the owners, at the address given in the last assessment rolls, of all lots or parcels of land lying within 300 feet of the boundaries or within lots in every direction of the area proposed to be rezoned, whichever is the greater area. Notices of the public hearing shall also be sent to each public utility company and each railroad owning or operating within the districts or zones affected. Such notices shall be delivered personally or by first class mail, at least 15 days prior to the date of the hearing.

Submission of request for amendment. A request for amendments to this chapter shall be submitted to the City Clerk on standard forms provided at least 15 days prior to the next regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting. At the next regularly scheduled meeting, the Planning Commission shall set a date for a public hearing to receive public comment. The standard forms shall be completed in the manner prescribed, and such documents as required by this chapter shall be filed with the clerk. A fee schedule, as provided by resolution of the City Council, shall be levied against each petition to cover the cost of administering the application process and for advertising public hearings and other incidental costs relative to the petition. The City Clerk shall transmit the application to the Planning Commission.

Resubmission of request following denial. A zoning amendment application, once denied by City Council, shall not be resubmitted for recommendation or action within one year from date of denial.

Protests. Upon presentation of a protest petition, an amendment to this chapter which is the object of the petition shall be passed only by a two-thirds vote of the Council, unless a larger vote, but not to exceed three-fourths vote, is required by ordinance or the Charter. The protest petition shall be presented to the Council before final legislative action on the amendment, and shall be signed by one of the following: