This Zoning Ordinance will be originally adopted and from time to time changed by amendment, addition or repeal in the manner hereinafter provided.

The adoption or change of this ordinance may be initiated by the submission to the City Council of the proposed zoning ordinance or change by the City Council, Zoning Board of Appeals, by an individual owning land to be affected by the change or adoption, by 10 registered voters in the City, by the Community Development Board, by the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission or by other methods provided by the City Charter, as may be amended. The City Council shall, within 14 days of receipt of such zoning ordinance or change, submit it to the Community Development Board for review.

No zoning ordinance or amendment thereto shall be adopted until after the Community Development Board and the City Council or a committee designated or appointed for the purpose by said Council has held a public hearing thereon at which interested persons shall be given an opportunity to be heard. Said public hearing shall be held within 65 days after the proposed zoning ordinance or change is submitted to the Community Development Board by the City Council.

Notice of the time and place of such public hearing, of the subject matter, sufficient for identification, and of the place where texts and maps thereof may be inspected shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the City once in each of two successive weeks, the first publication to be not less than 14 days before the day of the hearing (not counting the day of the hearing), and by posting such notice in a conspicuous place in City Hall for a period of not less than 14 days before the day of said hearing.

In addition to the notice provided for in Subsection C, notice shall further be sent by mail, postage prepaid, to owners of parcels affected by the rezoning and abutters, owners of land directly opposite any public or private street or way adjacent to the proposed rezoning, and abutters to abutters within 300 feet of the property line of the area proposed for rezoning. The names of such individuals shall be ascertained from the most recent applicable tax list in the Assessor's Office. Said notice shall be mailed no later than 14 days prior to the hearing on such rezoning request as provided for in Article XIII. The costs for such notice shall be paid for by the applicant for the rezoning.

Notice of said hearing shall also be sent by mail, postage prepaid, to the Massachusetts Department of Community Affairs, the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission and to the Planning Boards of all abutting cities and towns.

No vote to adopt any such proposed ordinance or amendment shall be taken until a report with recommendations by the Community Development Board has been submitted to the City Council; or 21 days after said hearing have elapsed without submission of such report, the City Council may adopt, reject or amend any such proposed ordinance. If the City Council fails to vote to adopt any proposed ordinance or amendment within 90 days after such hearing, no action shall be taken thereon until after a subsequent public hearing is held with notice and report as above provided.

No zoning ordinance shall be adopted or changed except by a two-thirds vote of all the members of the City Council, provided that if there is filed with the City Clerk prior to final action by the Council a written protest against such change, stating the reasons, duly signed by owners of 20% or more of the area of the land proposed to be included in such change, or of the area of the land immediately adjacent extending 300 feet therefrom, no such change of any such ordinance shall be adopted except by a three-quarters vote of all members.

No proposed zoning ordinance or amendment which has been unfavorably acted upon by the City Council shall be considered by the City Council within two years after the date of such unfavorable action unless the adoption of such proposed ordinance or amendment was recommended in the final report of the Community Development Board.

The effective date of the adoption or amendment of this Zoning Ordinance shall be the date on which such adoption or amendment was voted upon by the City Council. After the adoption of the Zoning Ordinance or amendments, the City Clerk shall send a copy of same to the Department of Community Affairs forthwith. A true copy of the Zoning Ordinance, with any amendments thereto, shall be kept on file available for inspection in the office of the City Clerk.

No claim of invalidity of this Zoning Ordinance arising out of any possible defect in the procedure of adoption or amendment shall be made in any legal proceeding and no state, regional, county or municipal officer shall refuse, deny or revoke any permit, approval or certificate because of any such claim of invalidity unless, within 120 days after adoption of this ordinance or amendment, legal action is commenced within the time period specified in Chapter 40 and notice specifying the court, parties, invalidity claimed and date of filing is filed, together with a copy of the petition, with the City Clerk within seven days after commencement of the actions. All procedures not stated herein but stated in the Massachusetts Zoning Act shall be governed by the Zoning Act as may be amended from time to time.

In case any section or provision of this ordinance shall be held invalid in any court, the same shall not affect any other section or provision of this ordinance except so far as the section or portion so declared invalid shall be inseparable from the remainder of any portion thereof.