(A) Every proposed amendment, supplement, change, modification or repeal to this chapter shall be referred to the Planning Board for its recommendation and written report. All petitions for a change in the zoning map shall include a legal description of the property involved and the names and addresses of current abutting property owners. If no written report is received from the Planning Board within 30 days of referral of the amendment to that Board, the Town Council may proceed in its consideration of the amendment without the Planning Board report.
(B) Per G.S. § 160D-604, when conducting a review of proposed zoning text or map amendments pursuant to this chapter, the Planning Board shall advise and comment on whether the proposed action is consistent with the adopted Comprehensive & Land Use Plan and any other officially adopted plan that is applicable. The Planning Board shall provide a written recommendation to the Town Council that addresses plan consistency and other matters as deemed appropriate by the Planning Board, but a comment by the Planning Board that a proposed amendment is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan shall not preclude consideration or approval of the proposed amendment by the governing board. If a zoning map amendment qualifies as a "large-scale rezoning" under G.S. § 160D-602(b), the Planning Board statement describing plan consistency may address the overall rezoning and describe how the analysis and policies in the relevant adopted plans were considered in the recommendation made.
(C) A Planning Board member shall not vote on any matter pursuant to this chapter where the outcome of the matter being considered is reasonably likely to have a direct, substantial, and readily identifiable financial impact on the member. A Planning Board member shall not vote on any zoning amendment if the landowner of the property subject to a rezoning petition or the applicant for a text amendment is a person with whom the member has a close familial, business, or other associational relationship.
(Ord. 04-21, passed 10-6-2004, § 69; Am. Ord. 06-06, passed 6-7-2006; Am. Ord. 16-05, passed 10-5-2016; Am. Ord. 21-01, passed 6-2-2021)