The Planning Commission shall:
(a) Receive all requests for amendments to the text of this Planning and Zoning Code and process the same according to the provisions of this Planning and Zoning Code, or pursuant to rules and regulations established by the Commission and not in conflict therewith. However, no action shall be taken on such requests, except for requests originating as provided in divisions (a)(1), (a)(2) and (a)(3) hereof.
(1) An amendment to the text of this Planning and Zoning Code may be initiated by the Commission by resolution duly adopted, clearly and concisely setting forth, in writing, the proposed amendment, together with a statement of reasons for such change. Upon adoption of the resolution, the Director of Law, upon request, shall prepare proper legislation to accomplish such amendment and refer the legislation to Council. Council shall refer the proposed ordinance to the Commission for an official recommendation. The proposed ordinance, reports and recommendations of the Commission shall be submitted to Council.
(2) An ordinance amending the text of this Planning and Zoning Code may be requested by a member of Council, in which event the Director of Law shall prepare legislation to accomplish such amendment. The proposed ordinance shall then be referred to the Commission for an official recommendation. The proposed ordinance, reports and recommendations of the Commission shall be submitted to Council.
(3) An ordinance amending the text of this Planning and Zoning Code may be requested by the Administration, in which event the Director of Law shall prepare legislation to accomplish such amendment. The proposed ordinance shall then be referred to Council. Council shall refer the proposed ordinance to the Commission for an official recommendation. The proposed ordinance, reports and recommendations of the Commission shall be submitted to Council.
(b) The Commission shall make an official recommendation on any proposed amendment to the text of this Planning and Zoning Code, whether initiated by or referred to as provided for in divisions (a)(1), (a)(2) and (a)(3) hereof. Prior to making such recommendation, the Commission may hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment and shall, within 120 days thereafter of the closure of the public hearing, make its recommendation to Council. Unless such recommendation is made within such period of 120 days, it shall be considered to have been approved by the Commission.
(c) Upon receipt of the Commission's recommendation or after 120 days have elapsed and no recommendation has been made by the Commission, Council shall hold a public hearing on all Planning and Zoning Code text amendments or revisions, after giving thirty days' notice thereof by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the City, for two consecutive weeks. During the period of notice, any ordinance, maps, plans, reports of the Commission and the recommendation of the Commission shall be on file for public examination in the office of the Clerk of Council.
(d) If a proposed text amendment is changed by Council in substance so as to deviate from the original proposal, then such amendment shall be referred back to the Commission and the same procedure shall apply thereto as applied to the original amending ordinance.
(e) Any proposed amending ordinance relating to the text of this Planning and Zoning Code, which ordinance is disapproved by the Commission, shall not be passed unless it receives the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the entire Council.
The following graphic display of the Text Amendment Procedure provides a visual expression and is intended to aid in the interpretation of the regulation.
(Ord. 53-06. Passed 12-11-06.)