The Town Council may amend, supplement or change the text regulations and zoning district lines according to the following procedures:
(a) Initiation of amendments. Proposed changes or amendments may be initiated by the Town Council, Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, or by one or more owners or lessees of property within the area proposed to be changed or affected.
(b) Downsizing. No amendment to zoning regulations or a zoning map that down-zones property shall be initiated nor is it enforceable without the written consent of all property owners whose property is the subject of the down-zoning amendment unless the down-zoning amendment is initiated by the Town of Valdese. For purposes of this section, "down-zoning" means a zoning ordinance that affects an area of land in one of the following ways:
(1) By decreasing the development density of the land to be less dense than was allowed under its previous usage.
(2) By reducing the permitted uses of the land that are specified in a zoning ordinance or land development regulation to fewer uses than were allowed under its previous usage.
(c) Petition. A petition for any change or amendment shall contain a description and/or statement of the present and proposed zoning regulation or district boundary to be applied and the names and addresses of the owner or owners of the property. Such petition shall be filed with the Zoning Enforcement Officer not later than three (3) weeks before the meeting at which the petition is to be considered.
(d) Fee. A fee, set by the Town Council, shall be paid to the Town Clerk of the Town, North Carolina, for each petition for an amendment to cover the costs of advertising and other administrative expenses involved. (Ord. of 1/10/05; Ord. of 12/6/10; Ord. of 6/28/21)