Notwithstanding anything in the Charter or laws of this City to the contrary, any change to the existing land uses, or any legislation changing the existing Zoning Map, shall not be approved or passed by the declaration of an emergency and shall not become finally effective without approval of the electors of Garfield Heights.
Approval shall require a majority favorable vote of all votes cast by qualified electors at any regular Municipal election.
When submitted for approval, no ordinance, resolution, bylaw, measure, regulation, restriction, amendment, provision, law, legislation or other proposed change of the use of land shall contain more than one subject clearly expressed in the title.
Upon failure to receive approval, the proposed change shall not be presented again for one year.
The schedule that a proposed zoning change must meet is as follows:
March General Election
September 30 Last day an individual requesting a zoning change may address a letter to the Mayor requesting a change in zoning.
Prior to this date, the letter must be addressed to the President of Council fourteen (14) days before the next regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting.
October 14-21 Last Planning Commission meeting which may recommend the proposed zoning change to Council and to the Ways and Means Committee (meets the third Wednesday of October).
October 31 Last day for zoning legislation to be introduced at a Council meeting. The proposed legislation must be immediately referred to the Ways and Means Committee for a minimum of fifteen (15) days. A public hearing must be held fifteen (15) days after the Council meeting at which zoning legislation is introduced.
November 1 Last day for notice of a public hearing to be given.
November 15 Public hearing must be held by this date.
November 30 Legislation must be passed in Council by this date.
December 3 The ordinance must be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Garfield Heights three (3) consecutive weeks by this date.
December 18 The Board of Elections must be notified of the ordinance. The ordinance and ballot language must be submitted to the Board of Elections by this date.
January 2 One (1) copy of the proposed ordinance must be posted in each of five (5) public places by this date.
March 2-8 Election takes place between March 2nd and March 8th.
November General Election
May 15 Last day an individual requesting a zoning change may address a letter to the Mayor requesting a change in zoning.
Prior to this date, the letter must be addressed to the President of Council fourteen (14) days before the next regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting.
June 1-7 Last Planning Commission meeting which may recommend the proposed zoning change to Council and to the Ways and Means Committee (meets the first Wednesday of June).
June 15 Last day for zoning legislation to be introduced at a Council meeting. The proposed legislation must be immediately referred to the Ways and Means Committee for a minimum of fifteen (15) days. A public hearing must be held fifteen (15) days after the Council meeting at which zoning legislation is introduced.
June 16 Last day for notice of a public hearing to be given.
July 2 Public hearing must be held by this date.
August 3 Legislation must be passed in Council by this date.
August 4 The ordinance must be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Garfield Heights three (3) consecutive weeks by this date.
August 19 The Board of Elections must be notified of the ordinance. The ordinance and ballot language must be submitted to the Board of Elections by this date.
September 3 One (1) copy of the proposed ordinance must be posted in each of five (5) public places by this date.
November 2-8 Election takes place between November 2nd and November 8th.
(Amended 11-2-04.)