Borough of Verona, PA Article XIX Amendments

§ 250-93 Public hearing required.

The regulations, restrictions and zoning district boundaries set forth in this chapter may from time to time be amended, supplemented, changed or repealed, provided that no such action may be taken until after a public hearing upon such proposal.

§ 250-94 Initiation.

An amendment, supplement, change or repeal of this chapter may be initiated by:

A. A resolution or request by the Borough Council;

B. An official proposal by the Planning Commission; or

C. A petition presented to the Planning Commission by a property owner or owners or a party who has entered into an agreement to purchase property in the Borough.

§ 250-95 Procedure.

A. Upon receipt of a petition or upon making an official proposal for an amendment to this chapter or its map, the Planning Commission shall review the proposal and submit recommendations to the Borough Council within 60 days of receipt of the petition stating specific reasons in support of either adopting the proposal, rejecting it or adopting it with conditions.

B. The Planning Commission may hold a public hearing, properly noticed, if it feels the proposal is of such a controversial nature or is so widespread in its influence that additional testimony should be gathered.

C. In the case of a petition to change a zoning district boundary, such petition shall be signed in support of the proposal by the owners of property representing at least 50% of the assessed valuation within the area proposed for rezoning. In the case of a petition to change the text of this chapter, such petition shall bear the names of at least 10 different property owners in the Borough, not more than one such owner on any one property. Any petitions shall attest that the requirements of this subsection have been met.

D. The Borough Council shall review the Planning Commission's recommendations and shall call a public hearing, properly noticed, after which Council shall vote approval or disapproval of the proposed amendment within 90 days of the conclusion of the hearing.

E. When the Borough Council proposes an amendment, it shall allow the Planning Commission at least 30 days to review the proposal and submit recommendations to Council's last regular meeting before the public hearing.

F. Before holding a public hearing, Council shall submit the proposed change to the County Planning Commission for recommendation at least 30 days prior to Council's last regular meeting before the hearing.

G. If a proposed amendment is revised before final approval to include property not previously affected or to further alter the text, the Borough Council shall hold another public hearing before proceeding to vote on the change.

H. Appeal from a decision of the Borough Council on an amendment proposal shall be to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.

I. Public hearing requirements.

(1) Public notice shall be published in a newspaper of general local circulation once in each of two consecutive weeks, the first notice appearing not more than 30 days nor less than 14 days before the hearing.

(2) In addition, where a change of zoning district boundaries is sought, the property or group of properties affected shall be posted in at least two conspicuous locations at least 14 days prior to the hearing, indicating the date, time and place of the hearing and the nature of the amendment sought.

(3) Owners of property within 100 feet of any boundary of a property or properties for which a change in the zoning district boundaries is sought shall be informed by mail at their addresses of record by letter sent at least 15 days prior to the hearing.

§ 250-96 Rehearing.

If a petition for amendment, supplement, change or repeal of this chapter is denied by the Borough Council, another petition for a similar change shall not be filed within a period of one year from the date of denial, except upon the initiation of Council or with the permission of or upon the initiation of the Planning Commission, based upon a change in circumstances which would warrant a rehearing.