The Official Zoning District Maps may from time to time be amended, through rezonings by application and comprehensive rezonings. Restrictions on the Zoning Maps may be amended by the same procedure as Ordinance amendments (See Section 1-6).
A. 
Application procedure:
Rezoning applications shall be submitted on forms obtained from the Department of Planning & Zoning. Each application shall be signed by all owners of the property and all persons having an interest in the property. The completed application, together with all required information and fees, shall be filed with the Department of Planning & Zoning. The Zoning Officer, upon receipt of a properly completed application, shall refer the application to the Planning Commission for its consideration and recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.
B. 
Public Hearing required:
Before any rezoning by application can be adopted, a duly advertised joint public hearing shall be held by the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners.
C. 
Public Hearing notice:
The public hearing shall comply with the requirements of Article 66B, Section 4.05(c) of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.
D. 
Posting of property:
At least 14 days prior to the scheduled public hearing, the Zoning Officer shall erect a sign on the land proposed to be rezoned. Such sign shall be erected within 25 feet of the boundary line of said land which abuts the most traveled County or State road and if no County or State road abuts thereon, then facing in such a manner as may be most readily seen by the public.
E. 
Notice to Neighboring Property Owners:
The Zoning Officer shall mail copies of the public hearing notice by U.S. Mail, First Class Postage Prepaid, to all parties shown by the record of said proceedings on file at the Department of Planning & Zoning, and to all adjoining owners of property, not less than 20 days before the date of the hearing. The applicant shall be responsible for submitting an accurate list of the names and addresses of the adjoining property owners.
F. 
Reapplication after Denial:
An application for rezoning shall not be accepted for any part of a property for which the Board of County Commissioners has denied a rezoning application within the previous 12 months.
G. 
Basis for Approval
1. 
The Board of County Commissioners may grant a rezoning by application based upon a finding that there was a substantial change in the character of the neighborhood where the property is located, or that there was a mistake in the existing Zoning District classification, and that the proposed change in Zoning District classification would be more desirable in terms of the objectives of the Comprehensive Plan.
2. 
Prior to a decision on any proposed rezoning, the Board of County Commissioners shall make findings of fact, based on the evidence presented, including the following matters: population change, availability of public facilities, present and future transportation patterns, compatibility with existing and proposed development, the recommendation of the Planning Commission, and compatibility with the Comprehensive Plan.
3. 
Even though an application for rezoning complies with all of the specific requirements and purposes of this Ordinance, the application may be denied if the proposed rezoning and possible resulting development would not be compatible with neighboring land uses.
The Board of County Commissioners, upon the approval of any rezoning by application, may impose such additional restrictions, conditions or limitations as it deems appropriate to preserve, improve or protect the general character and design of the land and improvements being rezoned, or of the surrounding or adjacent land and improvements. Conditions imposed shall not prohibit any use expressly permitted in the Zoning District to which the land is rezoned.
A. 
Duly advertised public hearings shall be held by the Planning Commission and the County Commissioners. The provisions of Article 66B, Section 4.04 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time, concerning public hearing and official notice apply to comprehensive rezonings.
B. 
The public hearing notice shall contain a brief description sufficient to identify the property involved, the current and proposed Zoning District classifications, and the date, time and place of the public hearing.
C. 
Posting of property and notification of neighboring property owners shall not be required.
D. 
Comprehensive rezonings are not subject to the "change or mistake rule" described in Section 2-5.01.G if they are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.