(A) An application for an individual zoning map amendment or floating zone reclassification may be made by any property owner or his duly authorized agent, a contract purchaser or any other person with at least a 50% proprietary interest in the area covered by any individual zoning map amendment or floating zone reclassification application. Each individual zoning map amendment or floating zone reclassification application must cover a contiguous area.
(B) The Zoning Administrator shall review the applications for individual map amendments and floating zone reclassifications as filed and may:
(1) Reject the application, if:
(a) The information is incomplete; or
(b) The current zoning status of the property is being reviewed under a comprehensive, community, or corridor plan update and comprehensive rezoning process, unless a waiver is granted by the County Council; or
(c) The amendment has been filed for the whole or part of land which was subject to a map amendment request for a zoning district designation which was opposed, denied, or dismissed on the merits within 12 months from the date of the signed decision.
(2) Accept the application where all the required information has been provided and the appropriate fee paid.
(C) A zoning map amendment or floating zone reclassification application shall be filed with the Zoning Administrator during normal office hours. The application shall include the following:
(1) Completed application form;
(2) The required fee as set forth in § 1-19-2.130 of this chapter;
(3) Ownership verification: copy of deed or if contract purchaser, submit copy of contract;
(4) A boundary plat prepared and sealed by a surveyor registered in the State of Maryland, prepared in accordance with the minimum standards of practice, showing metes and bounds (courses and distances);
(5) A list of names and addresses of all adjoining property owners, whether or not separated by streets, railroads, or other rights-of-way. This list must be obtained from the latest Frederick County property tax assessments records;
(6) A vicinity map covering the area within at least 1,000 feet of the boundaries of the land proposed to be reclassified, including the existing zoning classification of all land shown on the map; and
(7) A written explanation justifying the amendment or floating zone reclassification, setting forth in sufficient detail to advise county officials required to review the application.
(D) The Zoning Administrator shall retain custody of all application files, which will be available for public inspection during normal office hours. Any person may obtain, at their expense, copies of any and all papers in the file.
(E) The County Council may not consider an application for an individual zoning map amendment or floating zone reclassification during the time beginning on July 1, before the general election for County Council Members and ending 1 day after the beginning of the County Council's term of office.
(Ord. 98-23-225, 11-10-1999; Ord. 08-26-502, 10-14-2008; Ord. 09-27-531, 11-3-2009; Ord. 12-08-603, 4-17-2012; Ord. 14-23-678, 11-13-2014; Bill 17-08, 6-13-2017)