The regulations, restrictions, boundaries and requirements set forth in this chapter may, from time to time, be amended, supplemented, changed or repealed through amendment by the Board of Township Commissioners by amending the chapter in accordance with the provisions of Article VI of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,[1] as amended, and this section.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10601 et seq.
The following requirements shall be observed in making any amendment to this chapter:
A. 
The Board of Township Commissioners may, upon its own initiative or upon the recommendation of the Planning Commission, prepare or have prepared an ordinance amending, supplementing or changing the district boundaries or the regulations herein established, or a request for amendment may be initiated:
(1) 
Upon a petition signed by the owners of 50% or more of the frontage of any area, which shall be not less than the area contained between two streets, wherein a change of zoning regulations is sought; or
(2) 
By a landowner duly signed and acknowledged requesting an amendment or repeal. In the case of a curative amendment, the special requirements of the State Planning Code[1] and this section shall apply.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 71 P.S. § 1049.1 et seq.
B. 
The Board of Township Commissioners shall submit each proposed zoning amendment, other than one prepared by the Township Planning Commission, to the Planning Commission at least 30 days prior to any hearing which is to be held on the proposed amendment to provide the Commission with an opportunity to submit its recommendations prior to final action. The Planning Commission shall consider whether or not the proposed amendment would be, in the view of the Commission, consistent with and desirable in furtherance of the Township Plan for future land use, and in the case of any formally adopted Comprehensive Plan or any part thereof, the recommendations of the Commission shall include a specific statement as to whether or not the proposed action is in accordance with the intent of said formally adopted Comprehensive Plan. As required by the State Planning Code, a copy of any proposed zoning amendment also shall be submitted to the County Planning Commission at least 30 days prior to any hearing to be held on a proposed amendment in order to provide the Commission with an opportunity to submit its recommendations prior to final action.
C. 
Before voting on the enactment of an amendment, the Board of Township Commissioners shall hold a public hearing thereon pursuant to public notice. Notice of any such public hearing shall be given by publishing a notice thereof once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township and by mailing a notice thereof to the parties in interest and to every resident or association of residents of the Township who shall have registered their names and addresses for this purpose with the Township for the current year. The first publication of the notice shall be not more than 30 days or less than 14 days from the date of the hearing. The required public notice shall state the time and place of the hearing and the particular nature of the proposed amendment.
D. 
No action to amend or change this chapter shall become effective until after a public hearing in relation thereto, at which parties in interest and citizens shall have an opportunity to be heard.
E. 
If, after any public hearing held upon an amendment, the proposed amendment is revised or further revised to include land previously not affected by it, the Board of Township Commissioners shall hold another public hearing, as required by law pursuant to public notice, before proceeding to vote on the amendment.