The Board of Supervisors may, from time to time, amend
the Zoning Ordinance and/or the Zoning Map by proceeding in the manner
set forth in this section and as otherwise required by law.
An amendment proposed by the Board of Supervisors
shall be prepared by the Township's Solicitor, the Zoning Officer
or the Township Planning Commission. If a Board-proposed amendment
is not prepared by the Township Planning Commission, said proposed
amendment shall be referred to the Township Planning Commission for
review and comment.
If the proposed amendment would effect a change in
the Zoning Map if adopted, the property so affected shall also be
posted in the manner required (if so required) by the Municipalities
Planning Code.
After advertising (and posting of the property, if
any) has occurred, the Board of Supervisors shall hold a public hearing
on the proposed amendment of the Zoning Ordinance and/or Zoning Map
before voting on its adoption.
Any Township landowner may submit a written proposal,
on the form provided at the Township offices, requesting an amendment
of the Zoning Ordinance or Zoning Map as they relate to the landowner's
property and shall pay the fee fixed by the Board of Supervisors for
such a submission.
Since amendment of the Township Zoning Ordinance or
Map is a decision which falls within the legislative discretion of
the Board of Supervisors, the Board shall have no obligation or duty
to grant a hearing or to take any action on any proposal for amendment
of the Zoning Ordinance or the Zoning Map submitted by a landowner.
If a Township landowner submits a proposal for the
amendment of the Zoning Ordinance and/or Zoning Map, and the Board
of Supervisors decides to take no action on the proposal, the Township
staff shall return the application and fee submitted by the landowner,
and the Township shall take no further action on the submission.
If the Board of Supervisors decides to grant a hearing
on a proposal to amend the Zoning Ordinance and/or Zoning Map as submitted
by a Township landowner, the Township staff shall refer the proposal
to the Township Planning Commission and the Montgomery County Planning
Commission for review and comment. The Township staff shall also advertise
the proposed amendment as required by the Municipalities Planning
Code and, if the proposal involves any change to the Zoning Map, any
affected property shall be posted. The Board of Supervisors shall
hold such public hearing or hearings as it deems appropriate on the
proposal submitted by the landowner to amend the Zoning Ordinance
and/or Zoning Map, but the Board shall be under no obligation to take
any final action on the proposal.