Norton City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XII
Zoning Amendments
§ 175-12.1 Amendment by Town Meeting.
This bylaw and the Zoning Map may be amended by two-thirds majority vote of the Norton Town Meeting on a warrant article for such amendment.
§ 175-12.2 Initiation of amendments.
An amendment may be initiated by the Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, not less than 50% by valuation of the owners of property included in such amendment, or by written request of 10 or more registered voters of the Town of Norton for Annual Town Meetings or by written request of 100 voters of the Town of Norton for Special Town Meetings.
A.
When an amendment is initiated by petition of property owners or registered voters, it shall be submitted to the Selectmen for inclusion in the Town Meeting warrant and for referral to the Planning Board as provided by General Laws.
B.
The Planning Board shall hold a public hearing, duly advertised as required by MGL c. 40A, § 5, on any proposed amendment referred to it by the Board of Selectmen within 65 days of such referral. Notices of such hearing shall be mailed to all property owners according to the latest tax record, included within or abutting land subject to amendment, abutting communities, and the Regional Planning Agency. General notice will serve where the proposed amendment is of universal or wide application in the Town.
C.
Unless the Planning Board holds a public hearing and submits a report to the Town Meeting or 21 days elapse after the public hearing, the Town Meeting is precluded by MGL c. 40A, § 6, from adopting such zoning amendment.
D.
The Planning Board may recommend and the Town Meeting may adopt modifications to the proposed zoning amendment, provided they do not expand or alter the scope of the amendment as discussed in the public hearing and printed in the Town Meeting warrant.
§ 175-12.3 Failed amendments.
No amendment to this bylaw and Zoning Map acted upon unfavorably by the Town Meeting shall be considered or acted upon by the Town Meeting within two years of the date of unfavorable action, unless the adoption of such amendment is recommended by the Planning Board in its report thereon.
§ 175-12.4 Zoning Map amendments.
Whenever an amendment to the Zoning Map proposes that the zoning classification of a parcel of land be changed, the initiators of such amendment, at least three weeks prior to the public hearing, shall submit an accurate map drawn by a registered land surveyor, identifying the extent of the proposed change, and shall post the boundaries of land included in such amendment with signs at least two feet square identifying the proposed change and the date, time and place of public hearing thereon.