§ 5-506. Procedures on referral.

(a) Planning Commission.

(1) Public hearing.

The Planning Commission must consider the referred bill in a public hearing. Notice of the public hearing must be given in accordance with Title 5, Subtitle 6 {"Notices"} of this Code. Except as provided in subsection (e)(2) of this section, the hearing must be concluded no more than 60 days from the Commission's receipt of the referred bill.

(2) Review standards.

The Planning Commission must evaluate the bill in accordance with the standards in § 5-508 {"Approval standards"} of this subtitle.

(3) Written recommendations – Required.

Within 15 days of the close of the public hearing, the Planning Commission must:

(i) issue its written report and recommendations; and

(ii) forward its report and recommendations, together with all agency reports and recommendations received, to the applicant and to the City Council's Executive Secretary.

(4) Written recommendations – Options.

(i) For a text amendment, the Planning Commission may recommend approval, amendment, or denial of the application.

(ii) For a map amendment, the Planning Commission may recommend:

(A) approval or denial of the application;

(B) an alternative zoning designation than that applied for; or

(b) BMZA.

Within 30 days of the bill's introduction, the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals must submit its written report and recommendation to the City Council, with a copy to the Zoning Administrator.

Within 15 business days of the bill's introduction, City Council must refer the bill and all accompanying documents to the Director of Transportation for review and, if required, traffic mitigation, as provided in § 5-201(d) {"Introduction: Traffic mitigation"} of this title, if:

(1) traffic-mitigation requirements have not already been complied with in accordance with this Code or the City Building, Fire, and Related Codes Article; and

(2) the proposed legislative authorization:

(i) is for property in a Traffic-Mitigation Zone designated in Building Code§ 3805 {"Traffic-Mitigation Zones"} and involves 10 or more dwelling units;

(ii) involves 15,000 sq. ft. or more of gross floor area; or

(iii) involves 50 or more dwelling units.

(d) Other agencies.

Within 30 days of the bill's introduction, any other agencies to which the bill might have been referred must submit their written reports and recommendations to the City Council, with a copy to the Zoning Administrator.

(e) Agency failure to report.

(1) If an agency fails to submit its written report and recommendations within the period specified by this section, the City Council may proceed without that report and recommendations.

(2) However, the applicant may waive this time limit and consent to an extension of the reporting period by giving written notice of the waiver and consent to the President of the City Council, with copies to the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals, the Planning Commission, and the Zoning Administrator.