§ 5-601. Map or text amendments; PUDs.

(a) Hearing required.

For a bill proposing a zoning map amendment, a zoning text amendment, or the creation, modification, or repeal of a planned unit development, the City Council committee to which the bill has been referred must conduct a hearing at which:

(1) the parties in interest and the general public will have an opportunity to be heard; and

(2) all agency reports will be reviewed.

(b) Notice of hearing required.

Notice of the hearing must be given by each of the following methods, as applicable:

(1) by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the City;

(2) for the creation or modification of a planned unit development and for a zoning map amendment, other than a comprehensive rezoning:

(i) by posting in a conspicuous place on the subject property; and

(ii) by first-class mailing of a written notice, on forms provided by the Zoning Administrator, to each person who appears on the tax records of the City as an owner of the property to be rezoned; and

(3) for a comprehensive rezoning:

(i) by posting in conspicuous places within and around the perimeter of the subject area or district, as the Department of Planning designates; and

(ii) by first-class mailing of a written notice, on forms provided by the Zoning Administrator, to each person who appears on the tax records of the City as an owner of property within the subject area or district.

(c) Contents of notice.

The notice must include:

(1) the date, time, place, and purpose of the public hearing;

(2) the address of the subject property or a drawing or description of the boundaries of the area affected by the proposed rezoning; and

(3) the name of the applicant.

(d) Number and manner of posted notices.

(1) For a zoning map amendment or the creation or modification of a planned unit development, the number and manner of posting is as follows:

(i) for an individual property, at least 1 sign must be visible from each of the property's street frontages;

(ii) for a comprehensive rezoning, a change in the boundaries of a zoning district, or the creation or modification of a planned unit development, at least 2 or more signs are required, as the Department of Planning designates;

(iii) each sign must be posted at a prominent location, near the sidewalk or public right-of-way, so that it is visible to passing pedestrians and motorists;

(iv) a window-mounted sign must be mounted inside the window glass and placed so that it is clearly visible to passing pedestrians and motorists; and

(v) each sign must be at least 3 feet by 4 feet in size.

(2) Nothing in this subtitle prevents the voluntary posting of more notices than required by this subtitle.

(e) Timing of notices – In general.

The notice must be published, mailed, and, except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, posted:

(1) at least 15 days before the public hearing; or

(2) for a comprehensive rezoning, at least 30 days before the public hearing.

(f) Timing of notices – Posting for map amendment or PUDs.

For a zoning map amendment or the creation or modification of a planned unit development, the posted notice must be:

(1) posted at least 30 days before the public hearing; and

(2) removed within 48 hours after conclusion of the public hearing.

(g) Additional notice for proposed rezoning in MI District.

If an application is made to rezone any property in the MI District, the Director of Planning must notify the Maryland Port Administration and the owners of any adjacent property of the application.