(A) Mailed notice. For zoning map amendments, the owners of affected parcels of land and the owners of all parcels of land abutting that parcel of land shall be mailed a notice of the hearing on the proposed amendment by first-class mail at the last addresses listed for such owners on the county tax abstracts. For the purpose of this section, properties are "abutting" even if separated by a street, railroad, or other transportation corridor. This notice must be deposited in the mail at least ten but not more than 25 days prior to the date of the hearing. The person or persons mailing such notices shall certify the fact that the notices were duly mailed, and the date of mailing, to the Board of Commissioners.
(B) Large-scale zoning map amendments. First-class mail notice shall not be required if the zoning map amendment proposes to change the zoning designation of more than 50 properties, owned by at least 50 different property owners, and if the county elects to use the expanded published notice provided for in this division (B). In this instance, the county may elect to make the mailed notice required of this section or, as an alternative, elect to publish notice of the hearing as required by G.S. § 160D-601, provided that each advertisement shall not be less than one-half of a newspaper page in size. The advertisement is effective only for property owners who reside in the area of general circulation of the newspaper that publishes the notice. Property owners who reside outside of the newspaper circulation area, according to the address listed on the most recent property tax listing for the affected property, shall be notified by mailed notice.
(C) Posted notice. When a zoning map amendment is proposed, the local government shall prominently post a notice of the hearing on the site proposed for the amendment or on an adjacent public street or highway right-of-way. The notice shall be posted within the same time period specified for mailed notices of the hearing. When multiple parcels are included within a proposed zoning map amendment, a posting on each individual parcel is not required but the local government shall post sufficient notices to provide reasonable notice to interested persons.
(D) Published notice. For any public hearing, the County Zoning Administrator shall cause a notice to be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the county. The notice shall be published once a week for two successive calendar weeks, and shall be published for the first time not less than ten days nor more than 25 days before the scheduled hearing date. In computing such period, the day of publication shall not be counted, but the day of the hearing shall be counted.
(E) Notice to military bases. If the adoption or modification would result in changes to the zoning map or would change or affect the permitted uses of land located five miles or less from the perimeter boundary of a military base, the local government shall provide written notice of the proposed changes by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the commander of the military base not less than ten days nor more than 25 days before the date fixed for the hearing. If the commander of the military base provides comments or analysis regarding the compatibility of the proposed development regulation or amendment with military operations at the base, the Board of Commissioners shall take the comments and analysis into consideration before making a final determination on the ordinance.
(F) Content of notices. All published and mailed notices for public hearings shall identify the date, time, and place of the public hearing and the nature and character of the proposed action.
(Ord. passed 6-21-2021)