A. The City Council finds that the reclassification of property is a sensitive and important legislative function which, in the interest of maintaining uniform zoning policies and the integrity of the comprehensive plan, should only be exercised sparingly and under proper conditions. For this reason, and because the original zoning district boundaries under this title are presumed to be correct and appropriate, it shall hereafter be the policy of the City to reclassify property only where a clear showing has been made that the original classification was a mistake or that circumstances and conditions affecting the property in question have so materially changed so as to demand reclassification in the public interest.
B. The reclassification procedures outlined herein should not be confused with, or used in place of, the amendment process or the variance process. Thus, the Council intends that reclassification of property should not be entertained where: 1) an alleged hardship peculiar to the property is claimed, which is more properly the subject of a variance request; or 2) it is alleged that the provisions themselves as applied to similar properties are unreasonable, which is more properly the subject of a text amendment proposal. In all cases, the burden shall be upon the person(s) seeking reclassification to demonstrate that the requested reclassification is more appropriate than the present classification, in light of the characteristics of the property and the public welfare.
C. Furthermore, it is contemplated under this title that the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission is, in the first instance, the body responsible for the formulation and continuing review of the comprehensive plan, as expressed herein, and this commission shall be charged with the duty of periodically reviewing the policies and provisions of this title in light of its purposes and changing conditions, and proposing on its own initiative such district reclassifications or Code amendments as may be deemed appropriate to secure the public welfare. (Ord. 52-09, 10-19-2009)