A.
Initiation of change. The County Council may from time to time amend, supplement or change, by ordinance, the boundaries of the districts or the regulations herein established. Any such amendment may be initiated by resolution of the County Council or by motion of the Planning and Zoning Commission or by petition of any property owner addressed to the County Council. Petitions for change or amendment shall be on forms and filed in a manner prescribed by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
B.
Report from Planning and Zoning Commission. Before taking any action on any proposed amendment, supplement or change, the County Council shall submit the same to the Planning and Zoning Commission for its recommendations and report. Failure of the Commission to report within 45 days after the first meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission after the proposal has been referred to the Planning and Zoning Commission shall be deemed approval.
C.
Notice and hearings. The Planning and Zoning Commission shall hold a public hearing on any proposed amendment, supplement or change before submitting its report to the County Council and, for this purpose, may request the submission of all pertinent data and information by any person concerned. Before acting on any report by the Planning and Zoning Commission concerning a proposed amendment, supplement or change, the County Council shall hold a public hearing thereon.
D.
Reconsideration, one-year limitation. Whenever a petition requesting an amendment, supplement or change has been denied by the County Council, such petition or one substantially similar shall not be reconsidered sooner than one year after the previous denial; provided, however, that if a petitioner, applicant or appellant fails to appear, or appear by agent, at the scheduled hearing for reasons beyond his control, the applicant may submit a petition for reconsideration as set forth in the County Council's Rules of Procedure. The petition shall be submitted within 15 days and contain facts sufficient to demonstrate the failure to appear was beyond applicant's control. After discussion, if the failure to appear occurred before the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Planning and Zoning Commission shall vote to approve or deny the request for reconsideration or, if the failure to appear occurred before the County Council, the Council shall vote to approve or deny the request for reconsideration; provided, however, that the County Council shall not act upon any matter in which the applicant failed to appear before the Planning and Zoning Commission. If a majority of members of the Planning and Zoning Commission or the County Council, as applicable, vote to approve reconsideration of the application, the public hearing will be rescheduled.
[Amended 5-5-2015 by Ord. No. 2396]
E.
Withdrawal. A petition requesting an amendment, supplement or change, by ordinance, of the boundaries of a zoning district of the county's zoning regulations may not be withdrawn within two business days prior to the day of the holding of the public hearing before the County Council; provided, however, that a petition may be withdrawn thereafter for good cause shown if a majority of the members of the County Council shall vote to allow such withdrawal.
[Added 11-26-1991 by Ord. No. 804]
F.
Failure to appear. If a petitioner, applicant or appellant fails to appear, or appear by agent, or fails to withdraw his application as provided for in Subsection E hereof, a petition requesting an amendment, supplement or change substantially similar shall not be reconsidered sooner than one year after the previous failure to appear or failure to withdraw, unless the applicant's failure to appear was beyond his control and the applicant's petition for reconsideration is approved in accordance with Subsection D hereof.
[Added 11-26-1991 by Ord. No. 804; amended 5-5-2015 by Ord. No. 2396]