The Board of Supervisors may, from time to time, amend
this chapter and/or the Zoning Map[1] 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 comments.
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 this chapter 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 this chapter 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 this chapter or Zoning 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 this
chapter or the Zoning Map submitted by a landowner.
If a Township landowner submits a proposal for the
amendment of this chapter 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 or other
person, and the Township shall take no further action on the submission.
If the Board of Supervisors decides to grant a hearing
on any proposal to amend this chapter 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 commentary. The Township staff shall also
advertise the proposed amendment as required by the Municipalities
Planning Code[1] 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 this chapter and/or
Zoning Map, but the Board shall be under no obligation to take any
final action on the proposal.