The shoreland zoning overlay district provisions in this chapter may be amended by majority vote of the City Council, pursuant to the procedures in Article
XV. Copies of amendments, attested and signed by the City Clerk, shall be submitted to the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection following adoption by the City Council. If the Commissioner fails to act on any amendment within 45 days of the Commissioner's receipt of the amendment, the amendment is automatically approved. An application for a permit received by the City within the forty-five-day period shall be governed by the terms of the amendment, if such amendment is approved by the Commissioner.
A proposed change in this chapter which has been unfavorably
acted upon by the City Council on the merits of the petition shall
not thereafter be considered by the City Council for a period of two
years, unless adoption of the proposed change is recommended by the
unanimous vote of the Planning Board at a meeting where at least 2/3
of the full membership is present.