The Board of Supervisors may introduce and/or
consider amendments to this chapter and to the Zoning Map, as proposed
by a member of the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission,
or by a petition of a person or persons residing or owning property
within the Township.
Petitions for amendments shall be filed with
the Zoning Administrator; and the petitioners, upon such filing, shall
pay an advertising deposit and a filing fee, in accordance with a
fee schedule affixed by the Township.
Any proposed amendment presented to the Board
of Supervisors without written findings and recommendations from the
Girard Township Planning Commission and the Eric County Planning Commission
shall be referred to these agencies for their review and recommendations
prior to the public hearing by the Board of Supervisors. The Board
shall not hold a public hearing upon such amendments until required
reviews and recommendations are received or the expiration of 30 days
from the date that such proposed amendments were submitted to the
Township and County Planning Commissions.
Before acting upon a proposed amendment, the
Board of Supervisors shall, as required by law, hold a public hearing
thereon. Public notice of such hearing is required and shall contain
a brief summary of the proposed amendment and reference to the place
where copies of the same can be examined, and shall be published in
accordance with the provisions of the Pennsylvania Municipalities
Planning Code. If the proposed amendment involves a change to the
Zoning Map, notice of the public hearing shall be posted at the affected
tract in accordance with Section 609 of the Planning Code at least one week prior to the date of the hearing.