§ 135-1504. Public hearings on proposed amendments.

The Planning Board on its own initiative shall conduct public hearings within 65 days after receipt of the proposed amendment or change:

A. 

After the publication of a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town, in each of two consecutive weeks, the first publication to be at least 14 days prior to the hearing date.

B. 

Said notice shall contain date, time and place of said hearing, subject matter sufficient for identification and places where texts and maps may be inspected.

C. 

Said notice shall be posted in the Town Hall for a period of not less than 14 days prior to hearing date.

D. 

Notice of said hearings shall be mailed postage prepaid to the Department of Community Affairs, the regional planning agency, the planning boards of all abutting cities and towns and to any nonresident property owner who has filed an annual request for such notice with the Town Clerk not later than January 1 and has paid a fee of $5 to cover postage and handling. It shall be deemed sufficient if such notice is mailed or delivered to the last known address.

E. 

For all rezonings proposing a change from one zoning district to another, notice of said hearing shall also be mailed by the Planning Board postage prepaid to the owner or owners of the property being rezoned and to those abutters within 300 feet of the property being rezoned. Said notice need not be sent in the case of an amendment or change of an overlay district such as floodplain and wetlands district or watershed district. The proposer of the rezoning shall reimburse the Town for the costs of giving notice. A certificate, signed by the Chairman of the Planning Board, that the notices have been sent shall be proof of compliance.