The city council may, from time to time, amend, supplement, or change by ordinance, the boundaries of the districts, or the regulations herein established. A proposed change of district or text may be initiated by the city council, on its own motion, or in recommendation by the planning commission, or by petition of property owner addressed to the city council. All petitions shall be in writing and shall specify:

(1)

The nature and extent of the change desired;

(2)

Reasons for seeking the change;

(Ord. No. 24-58, Exh. A, 11-19-2024; Ord. No. 24-64, Exh. A, 11-19-2024; Ord. No. 24-ZTA-06, Exh. A, 11-19-2024)

Before taking any action on any proposed amendment, supplement, or change, the city council shall submit the same to the planning commission for its recommendations and report. The planning commission shall hold at lease one public hearing on such proposed amendments, and may make appropriate changes in the proposed amendments, as a result of such hearing. Upon the completion of its work, the planning commission shall present the proposed amendment to the city council, together with its recommendation and any appropriate explanatory materials deemed necessary by the planning commission. The failure of the planning commission to report, within ninety (90) days after the first meeting of the commission after the proposed amendment has been referred to the commission, shall be deemed approval.

Before approving and adopting any amendment to this ordinance, the city council shall hold at least one public hearing thereon, after which the city council may make appropriate changes or corrections in the proposed amendment; provided, that no additional land may be zoned to a different classification than was contained in the public notice required by this section, without an additional public hearing, after notice as required by this section. An affirmative vote of at least a majority of the members of the city council shall be required to amend any provision of this ordinance.

The planning commission shall not recommend, nor shall the city council adopt, any amendment to this ordinance until notice of intention to do so has been advertised and written notice has been given to affected property owners in accordance with Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2204 as amended.

Additionally, when a petition for a change in a district classification is filed with the city, a sign shall be posted on each lot included in the petition, stating that a request has been filed with the council for a zoning change, and state the requested classification. If the petition involves multiple contiguous lots, a single sign posted every three hundred (300) feet along each public street frontage adjoining the area subject to the petition shall be deemed to be sufficient compliance with this requirement. Signs on each property shall not be deemed necessary to adopt a new zoning district map for the city.

Such signs shall be posted so as to be visible from the street and not less than ten (10) days prior to the planning commission public hearing and shall remain until such time as the council has disposed of the petition. The signs shall be maintained and replaced if they are damaged or destroyed.

(Ord. No. 24-58, Exh. A, 11-19-2024; Ord. No. 24-64, Exh. A, 11-19-2024; Ord. No. 24-ZTA-06, Exh. A, 11-19-2024)

Editor's note— Ord. Nos. 24-58, 24-64 and 24-ZTA-06, Exh. A, adopted Nov. 19, 2024, repealed § 5, which pertained to notice to be delivered by certified or registered mail to affected property owners, agents, or tenants and derived from the original codification.