The Borough Council may from time to time amend this chapter, including the Zoning Map.

Proposals for amendment, supplement, change, or modification or repeal may be initiated by the Borough Council on its own motion, the Borough Planning Commission, or by petition by one or more owners of property to be affected by the proposed amendment. Any proposed amendment favorably acted upon shall be specifically found to be in accordance with the spirit and intent of the Borough community development objectives and the Borough Comprehensive Plan.

Before voting on the enactment of any amendment, the Borough Council shall hold a public hearing pursuant to public notice. Public notice shall be notice published once for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Borough. Such notice shall state the time and place of hearing, the particular nature of the matter to be considered at the hearing and the full text of the amendment or a brief summary setting forth the general provisions in reasonable detail. The first publication shall no more than 60 days and the second publication not less than seven days from the date of the hearing. Procedures relating to the publication, advertisement, and availability of proposed amendments shall be in accordance with Section 610 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,[1] as amended. If the proposed amendment involves a Zoning Map change, notice of the public hearing shall be conspicuously posted by the Borough at points deemed sufficient by the Borough along the perimeter of the tract to notify potentially interested citizens. The affected tract or area shall be posted at least one week prior to the date of the hearing. All notification requirements of the Act shall be met.

If, after any public hearing held upon an amendment, the proposed amendment is changed substantially or is revised to include land previously not affected by it, the Borough Council shall hold another public hearing pursuant to public notice before proceeding to vote on the amendment. In the event substantial amendments are made in the proposed ordinance or amendment, before voting upon enactment, the Borough Council shall, at least 10 days prior to enactment, readvertise, in one newspaper of general circulation in the Borough, a brief summary setting forth all the provisions in reasonable detail together with a summary of the amendments.

In case of an amendment other than one prepared by the Borough Planning Commission, the Borough Council shall submit each such amendment to the Borough Planning Commission at least 30 days prior to the hearing in order to provide the Planning Commission an opportunity to submit recommendations. At least 30 days prior to the hearing on the proposed amendment, the Borough shall submit the proposed amendment to the Bucks County Planning Commission for recommendations.

Within 30 days after enactment, a copy of the adopted amendment to this chapter shall be forwarded to the Bucks County Planning Commission.

A landowner who desires to challenge on substantive grounds the validity of a Zoning Ordinance or Map or any provisions thereof, which prohibits or restricts the use or development of land in which he has an interest may submit a curative amendment to the Borough Council with a written request that his challenge and proposed amendment be heard and decided as provided in Sections 609.1 and 916.1 of the MPC,[1]as amended. The Borough Council shall commence a hearing thereon within 60 days of the request as provided in Section 609.1 of the MPC, as amended. The curative amendment and challenge shall be referred to the Borough Planning Commission, and notice of the hearing thereon shall be given as provided by the MPC, as amended.

Procedures for the public hearing as set forth on Section 609.1 of the Act,[2] as amended, shall be followed.

If the Borough determines that its zoning ordinance or any portion thereof is substantially invalid, it shall follow the procedures as set forth in Section 609.2 of the Act,[3] as amended.

Every private application for amendment to this chapter shall first be presented to the Borough with the required filing fee and escrow deposit as set forth by resolution of the Borough Council, and shall set forth the following, where relevant:

Consistency with Borough Comprehensive Plan. All zoning amendments or changes shall be consistent with the New Hope Borough Comprehensive Plan, in accordance with Section 603(j) of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.[1] A change shall not be enacted unless the proposed change is consistent or until the Borough Comprehensive Plan is amended in a manner that resolves the inconsistency.