Referral to Town Planning Board and Conservation Advisory Commission. Every proposed amendment or change, whether initiated by the Town Board or by petition, shall be referred to the Town of Washington Planning Board and Conservation Advisory Commission for report thereon prior to public hearing.

Referral to County Planning Department. Any proposed amendment affecting real property within 500 feet of the boundary of the Town of Washington, or the boundary of any existing or proposed county or state park or other recreational area, or the right-of-way of any existing or proposed county or state roadway, or the boundary of any existing or proposed right-of way for a stream or drainage channel owned by the county and for which the county has established channel lines, or the boundary of any existing or proposed county- or state-owned land on which a public building or institution is situated, shall be referred to the Dutchess County Department of Planning before final action is taken pursuant to General Municipal Law, Article 12-B, §§ 239-l and 239-m, as amended.

Publication of notice in newspaper. Notice of the time and place of the public hearing shall be published at least 10 days in advance of such hearing in a newspaper with general circulation in the Town. This notice should specify the general nature of the proposed amendment in such reasonable detail as will give adequate notice of its contents indicating the place or places where copies of the proposed amendment may be examined and the time and place of the hearing.

Posting. Notice of the time and place of the public hearing shall be posted at least five days in advance of such hearing on the bulletin board of the Town Clerk located at the Town Hall. This notice should specify the general nature of the proposed amendment, in such reasonable detail as will give adequate notice of its contents, indicating the place or places where copies of the proposed amendment may be examined and the time and place of the hearing.

Notice to adjacent municipalities. Written notice of any proposed amendment affecting property lying within 500 feet of an adjacent Town or the Village of Millbrook shall be given to the Clerk of such municipality at least 10 days prior to the date of public hearing. Representatives of neighboring municipalities receiving notification of a proposed amendment shall have the right to appear and be heard at the public hearing thereon, but shall not have the right to review by a court.

Local protest. The favorable vote of three-fourths (e.g., four) of the Town Board members shall be required for passage of any amendment which draws a written protest signed by 20% or more of the owners of land in any of the following areas:

County disapproval. A majority plus one vote shall be required to pass any amendment which receives a recommendation of disapproval from the County Department of Planning because of the referral process specified above, along with a resolution setting forth the reasons for such contrary action.