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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/15/2000 - RESOLUTION 2000-33 ADOPTING A PROCESS AND PROCEDUR AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 23 DATE: February 15, 2000 10 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Pete Wray SUBJECT: Resolution 2000-33 Adopting a Process and Procedure for Amending City Plan and the Elements Thereof. I RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution. On February 3,2000,the Planning and Zoning Board voted 6-0 to forward a recommendation to City Council to approve the proposed Process and Procedures for amending City Plan. On November 8, 1999, the Council Growth Management Committee supported the proposed amendment process and gave staff direction to proceed with scheduling the adoption hearing sequence during the first quarter of 2000. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This Resolution adopts a process and procedure for amending City Plan and the Comprehensive Plan Elements thereof A description of this process, procedure and types of amendments will be incorporated into the appendix of City Plan. In addition,City Plan Growth Management Principles and Policies will be revised to describe the amendment process including frequency, scope, types of amendments, consistency and decision-making body. BACKGROUND: During the preparation of City Plan,there was discussion among the City Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC)members and City staff in regards to the process and procedures for amending City Plan, particularly the City Structure Plan. The discussions concluded that it would be to everyone's benefit to establish clear and consistent policy and procedures for amending City Plan,including the Community Vision and Goals 2015 document, City Structure Plan, and City Plan Principles and Policies as well as the other adopted "elements" of the comprehensive plan. However, at that time, the issue proved to be more complex than there was time to give it, and therefore CPAC recommended that the issue be deferred until after adoption of City Plan. In the interim, the Advisory Committee recommended some general language that was included in the adopted City Plan Principles and Policies document as follows: "Policy LU-3.2 Amendments. Any significant changes to the area designations identified in the City Plan Structure Plan will require an amendment to the City Structure Plan and adequate public participation. The City Structure Plan will be reviewed and evaluated on a regular basis." "Policy GM-9.4 Amending the Plan. A biennial report shall be produced, beginning in 1998, to provide a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the impacts of city Plan and to assess whether specific policies and strategies are leading to the intended results. Recommendations for improving the Plan's success, based on these reports, may lead to amendments to the Plan. A comprehensive update of the Plan shall take place every five (5)years, beginning in 2002." DATE: February 15,2000 2 ITEM NUMBER: 23 The authority to amend the comprehensive plan and the elements thereof is contained with statutes and City Code. State statutes provide basic provisions for the Planning and Zoning Board to develop and amend plans. The City Code is more specific allowing the City Council to adopt and amend Plans, instead of the Planning and Zoning Board. City Plan has undergone a few minor amendments since its adoption in 1997. Most of these amendments have occurred concurrently with adoption of other elements of the comprehensive plan (e.g. subarea plans) or in conjunction with updates to the Land Use Code or in conjunction with specific zoning and rezoning requests. Typically, City Plan amendments have included changes to specific policy statements as well as revisions to the land uses and street networks shown on the City Structure Plan. Staff has initiated most of these changes. All of the amendments were approved by City Council by resolution, and after recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Board. In addition, other elements of the City's comprehensive plan have also undergone amendments, which in turn triggered updates to City Plan. Examples include the Mountain Vista Subarea Plan, Master Street Plan and Park and Recreation Master Plan(See Table 1.1,Attachment No. 3 for a list of amendments to City Plan over time). Recommended Changes to City Plan: City staff has identified specific revisions to City Plan Principles and Policies describing the amendment process and procedures. The proposed new Policies further clarify and distinguish between the less frequent biennial report and subsequent 5-year Comprehensive Plan update, and the process for Plan amendments occurring each year(See Attachment No. 1). City staff has developed a new Appendix "C" entitled "Process for Amending City Plan and Other Related Comprehensive Plan Elements"to be incorporated into City Plan. Appendix C outlines the amendment process for citizen and City initiated changes,as well as distinguishing between minor and major amendments (See Attachment No. 2). List of Attachments: 1. Proposed Changes to City Plan Principles and Policies dated January 28, 2000. 2. Appendix C, Process and Procedures for Amending City Plan and Comprehensive Plan elements thereof, dated January 28,2000. 3. Table 1.1,Amendments to City Plan and related elements revised October 20, 1999. . Attachment 1 Amending City Plan and Other Elements Thereof January 28,2000 Proposed Changes to City Plan Principles and Policies: Growth Management 1. Amend Policy GM-9-4 by changing the title to clarify that this policy deals specifically with the biennial report,and by deleting the final sentence referring to a"five-year update". This statement will be moved to a new Policy GM 10 that deals with amendments to plans. The proposed changes are as follows: Policy GM-9.4 A biennial report shall be produced,beginning in 1998,to provide a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the impacts of City Plan and to assess whether specific policies and strategies are leading to the intended results. Recommendations for improving the plan's success, based on these reports,may lead to amendments to the plan. of the Plan sht4l take plaee every five (5) years,beginning in 2092. 2. Add a new principle and policies for amendments to City Plan, and elements thereof, as follows: CIPLE'G1GI`10> hre Crty wdl ameui7�PlaFi and ement§LUb " n`c"csa o i'es` o�dto�'new a`nd/o'��cha`""gc�"o,�tS"difio""' otati'lg�e"v"h5tit Iniffi si . ,. canTt'1�ends'�ani1 nodicew'ra`Y1` ,"i�tiedi ".""lian'8" Gil . , , �dhc fG1VI=;0.1 r�qu_,en • : : : 1ar� `21'f� leriirn he%e ��_," i3ed; ' "holearrnprtW bum " eh Y,A. r` eitrien- -tatedamen`flm"en'ytsya:...� d b""� more' ' ' W` . , be anriedeconerently'iYhe 'dppo e e'efifs a�Ieed, , co relieiive` e of„=i P bn `h' „alb„ a� eu��bfLs%" y iun' 02: Pi�li�' ° '0?2eope � ec�ais�r fi'� eiifs lia'fl ..e dete3Pmrne3 (_dance m "sib"" ', u�„�q`the" ,etc 1 de ienh tsonal pla 1 ,9 dE d 1AW o twd' `"a ""d exterfiallto Crty�g yWV fnmefY • Miey ` 'Q 3 of lau A"ciid an ain€ndm fit ma k% �ifliei'm` .,�0�r_ . nil •i;iot' hbRi:�dl "e" �n?;��naCue s"�7 le ,erg cir' aif en* 'eii "e i re sub - � c 7ac "1af� iise"1 o d ate` fii 6r? - a6�1 1 Lg:c q �GPHsis't�incy: l liall ofe ' Qc , faiae""conssfn ' b � d u°li ofiiEyatn the Poli , . 1 04`0- Mcxsion-' a"II"i I 1 a"baoin of�th-= A o"�_�?; 12,}Yingaifid �U"on a �r�da"tio�1" � irt'�EFiTi'1d; 3. Renumber Principle GM-10 to GM-I I and the subsequent policies accordingly. Attachment 2 APPENDIX C Process and Procedures for Amending City Plan And Comprehensive Plan Elements Thereof City Plan, and the adopted plan elements which comprise the City's comprehensive plan,are policy documents used to guide decision-making within Fort Collins and the surrounding area. For the City's comprehensive plan to function over time, it must be able to be reviewed, revised, and updated on an as needed basis in order to respond to significant trends or changes in the economic, physical, social, or political conditions of the City. Amendments to City Plan and related elements may be performed on a yearly basis as needed. A separate process for amending City Plan will be conducted as part of a comprehensive update occurring every five (5)years. The purpose of this section is to outline a process and procedures for amending City Plan,on a more frequent basis,as well as describe the process for amending the adopted related comprehensive plan elements thereof(See Appendix A-Comprehensive Plan Elements). For purposes of this section, there are two forms of plan amendments. Minor Plan Revisions are housekeeping in nature such as correcting a text or map error. Major Plan Amendments are more substantial in nature such as changes or additions to policy language, land use, zoning, boundary line adjustments and street alignments. The process and procedure for making these amendments are described below: Amendment Process and Procedures I. Minor Plan Revisions Minor plan revisions include and are limited to: 1. Correcting a text or map error within the plan document such as outdated information, grammatical errors, incorrect symbols and graphics. 2. Adding text or graphics,which have the effect of clarifying a principle or policy of the plan. 3. Minor changes of location and alignment of streets and transit routes based on actual development design(corrections to"as-built"conditions),resulting in revisions to the Master Street Plan and Transit Master Plan. 4. Map legend revisions. 5. Minor land use designation adjustments such as size or boundary changes based on Zoning amendments. The decision-maker for minor plan revisions, is the Community Planning and Environmental Services Director(the"Director'). The Director is responsible for reviewing and making decisions on minor plan revisions. However, prior to making a determination that a revision is minor, the Director will seek the advice of the Council Growth Management Committee to determine whether the change is a minor plan revision or is a major plan amendment. The intent of minor plan revisions is to keep City Plan current and up-to-date. Minor plan revisions may be proposed by anyone. The Director will also detemune the appropriate schedule for processing minor plan revisions. Minor plan revisions initiated by citizens shall be considered no more frequently than twice per calendar year(October/April). Revisions initiated by city staff,city boards and commissions, and City Council may be processed at any time. The Director shall conduct a public hearing prior to making a decision on any minor plan revision. The decision of the Director shall require notification in the newspaper of the public hearing at least 14 days prior to the hearing date. At the public hearing, any member of the public may comment upon a proposed minor plan revision. In making his/her decision, the Director shall also seek the advice of any boards and commissions that the Director determines may have a legitimate interest in the proposed revision,provided that such a board or commission is duly authorized pursuant to Chapter 2 of the City Code,to function in such advisory capacity. At any time prior to a decision, the Director can determine that the proposed minor plan revision be changed to a major plan amendment. If approved by the Director,the minor plan revision shall become a part of City Plan,and City Plan shall be revised to include the changes resulting from the revision. A letter of notification will be forwarded to the appropriate boards and commissions when such revision has been finalized. H. Major Plan Amendments Major plan amendments are characterized by requiring a longer review process, greater public interest, and higher level of review involving the Planning and Zoning Board, other boards and commissions, and City Council hearings. Major plan amendments include: 1. Text revisions that include a change of land use,zone district,boundary line adjustment, or street classification. 2. Map changes to land use size or configuration,except those that are defined as a Minor Plan Revision. 3. Street classification revisions or significant re-alignments. 4. Additions, deletions or revisions to goals,principles and policies. 5. Any amendment that is determined by the Director to require a neighborhood meeting. Prior to initiation of the amendment process, the appropriate neighborhood meetings and other outreach meetings will have been conducted before public hearings are scheduled for the Planning and Zoning Board. 6. Any amendment that is not considered a minor plan revision. Major plan amendments shall be considered by the City Council, after recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Board, Council Growth Management Committee, City staff, and any boards and commissions that may have a legitimate interest in the proposed amendment,provided that such board or commission is duly authorized pursuant to Chapter 2 of the City Code to function in such advisory capacity. Notice of such Council action shall be given as required for resolutions pursuant to the City Charter. The City Council shall then approve, approve with conditions, or deny the amendment based on its consideration of the recommendations from the Planning and Zoning Board, Council Growth Management Committee, city staff, boards and commissions, and evidence from the public hearings. Citizen requests for Major Plan Amendment shall be considered by the City Council no more frequently than twice per calendar year(October/April),unless the Director determines the proposed amendment warrants expedited consideration by City Council. Major plan amendment requests based on proposed development projects that involve rezonings may also be processed concurrently with rezoning applications (November/June). Major plan amendments initiated by City Council, • City staff, and boards and commissions, may be processed at any time. Requests shall be submitted to the City's Advance Planning Department at least 60 days prior to the hearing date for the Planning and Zoning Board. The 60-day submittal requirement is necessary in order to permit adequate public notice to be given and to allow adequate time to complete the background work for considering a major plan amendment. A major plan amendment shall be approved if the City Council makes specific findings that: 1. The existing City Plan and/or any related element thereof is in need of the proposed amendment; and 2. The proposed major plan amendment will promote the public welfare and will be consistent with the vision, goals,principles and policies of City Plan and the elements thereof. If adopted by the City Council, City Plan shall be revised to include the changes resulting from the amendment. A letter of notification will be forwarded to the appropriate boards and commissions when the revision(s)have been finalized. • M � rn qOq b0 tD ti b > 4.1 � � alb �❑ Q � o � + r., 4..4 0 •O z�z .� A p .fl •O W b0.fl cC O tC bD o � b�D O O U p" 'b Q�r O ^O V 'U •b � � O ,;ice.. t, .b a V] .°3 �j Y.. °o° "O U p •o � � "B Z u. : yy O Ln C� oo h n vi O . O O O O O 4 i 4 4 s i LO y„ r O0 00 00 00 01 �.. rn a` rn o, rn o, o, o, o, o, o` rn CD D\ O C\ C 4 tn ti � n } s 3s•1�is4 '�= � � � r s - 7� :a ti G!= A � O O w � QM C y 4 C •� N P U p Attachment No.3 �4 7W & 10 M Principles and Policies 11/5/96 96-136 3/17/98 98-056 Policy GM-2.1. Annexation Policies, County enclaves, infrastructure standards. 3/2/99 99-26 Policy GM-5.1. 1/6 Development contiguity. Issues and Policy Plans: Air Quality Policy Plan 3/16/93 3/17/98 98-050 Approving Air Quality Action Plan Update for 1999. Historic Resources Preservation Prog 11/93 Plan Transportation Master Plan 9/16/97 97-123 Air Quality Action Plan Master Street Plan Map 7/82 9/82 7/89 8/92 Result of the North East Area Transportation Study. 8/20/96 96-080 Revisions 4/l/97 97-053 Deletes Overland Trail Extension 9/16/97 97-124 Revisions. 3/17/98 98-58 Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan street network. 2 • Attachmene. 3 k 1 INSe'i it t '4. t , k r a 'r • +� . t v w 1B� :� r s - :. t« "n2'`a,. s'F 'P w �� f Amendmenls tb Caty i'Can and RelatedElements` dated l0/20199 i : •.. ^�'7'm� 5�'VYY" >t�-sa.'�i' `ns+E a*SLe s.t a-.w s "'SI": �f*"i .r • . Plan,Name a Adopted Amended: Res%Ord Descriptign Mm/Re'v*'7.r.._ Master Street Plan, continued 3/16/99 Mountain Vista Subarea Plan proposed street network for northeast quadrant of City. 5/18/99 99-59 Realignment and connection of Highcastle Dr. with Fossil Creek Parkway via Roma Valley Dr. 6/15/99 99- Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan revisions to street X network. 10/19/99 99-129 East Vine changes X Fort Collins Congestion Management 2/95 Amended the City's Goals and Objectives document. Plan Established a Transportation Demand Management program to be managed by Transportation Services. Established certain transportation and air quality objectives to be included as elements of the City Plan. Pedestrian Plan 8/20/96 96-093 Transit Development Plan 3/5/96 96-016 4/15/97 97-059 Update plan. Transportation Demand Management 3/5/96 96-017 Adopts plan. Plan Bikeway Plan 5/17/95 Second draft submitted to council for approval. CSU Surrounding Residential neighborhood Parking Study 3 Attachment No.3 � .- IN ER��`"t�,� -{ , t" F: •ylpg-i # 7�'rir 6 ,� `` r 44 �.'• ff ry -. �y y. � vm^ 1 a� Rd� �•+ v�e V<���4 m # r' S TG�v� «# Pw'{ ��„T £ hY ti'. AaYL ��,y�lx¢Y` � d t' . It eldte, ,hZ P a 0/20/ �. Parking Plan 9/17/96 96-107 Natural Areas Policy Plan 10/92 Chapter 5,Policy Plan, included as elem of comp plan. 10/19/99 99-130 East Vine Drive re-alignment Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2/88 88-23 This adoption also included an update of the Goals and Objectives and the Land Use Policy Plan. 12/3/96 96-147 Plan updated. 3/16/99 Amend Master Plan Map for Fossil Creek,West Central X Neighborhoods, and Mountain Vista Subareas. Subarea/Corridor Plans: Downtown Civic Center Master Plan 6/6/95 Council gave direction to work with Larimer County 7/16/99 96-086 Downtown Plan 9/89 Eastside Neighborhood Plan 3/86 element of comprehensive plan. Harmony Corridor Plan 3/91 Updated in 1995. 6/1/99 98-99 Add convention and conference centers land use. North College Avenue Corridor Plan 3/21/95 Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan 3/17/98 98-054 Adopting the plan. 2/2/99 99-15 Amend Land Use Framework Plan Map to add NC and MMN land use designations, and related text in Chapter 2. 4 Attachment No. 3 tia able � d z � � - t i 1 n'an Ad a Edemen s(CJpdated 10/20/�9)''° � � vPlanNae ado AAmended { xRes/Ord ? ?u °DescriptionX4Q, Mm/Reya` Northeast Area Transportation Study 9/92 Portions were adopted. Old Town Area Plan 8/5/90 res Poudre River Trust Land Use Policy Plan 2/86 Policy Plan, chapter 2 adopted. Prospect Road Streetscape Program 2/93 ord This is a program document and not a policy plan. Westside Neighborhood Plan 7/89 res Mountain Vista Subarea Plan 3/16/99 99-35 10/19/99 99-130 Amend Framework Plan,Transportation Plan and Chapter 5 X text relating to master Street Plan changes to East Vine Drive. 5 RESOLUTION 2000-33 • OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS ADOPTING A PROCESS AND PROCEDURE FOR AMENDING CITY PLAN AND THE ELEMENTS THEREOF WHEREAS,during the preparation of City Plan,the City Plan Advisory Committee and the City staff determined that it would be in the City's best interest to develop a process and procedure for amending City Plan and its various elements, and particularly for amending the City Structure Plan; and WHEREAS, due to the complexity of the issue and the press of time in preparing and presenting to the Council for adoption both City Plan and the Land Use Code, the City Plan amendment issue was deferred; and WHEREAS,the staff has prepared a process and procedure for amending City Plan and the elements thereof,which process and procedure have been recommended by the Planning and Zoning Board to the City Council for adoption; and WHEREAS, the Council has determined that it is in the best interest that said process and procedures be adopted. NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That policy GM-9.4 (Amending the Plan) of "City Plan Principles and Policies" be and hereby is amended to read as follows: Policy GM-9.4 . A biennial report shall be produced,beginning in 1998,to provide a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the impacts of City Plan and to assess whether specific policies and strategies are leading to the intended results. Recommendations for improving the plan's success, based on these reports, may lead to amendments to the plan. mripreherisive apdate of the Pian shail take place every five (5 Section 2. That the section of City Plan entitled "City Plan Principles and Policies" be amended by the addition of a new Principle GM-10,which shall read as follows,and all subsequent sections shall be renumbered accordingly: � 'l d F;sn ' gnor f0, a5bed ar i a --amen , " itt n to�thefore dedre '`�. ` th adophon�,o ,mil e � x r G1-1 2 g i cope, e r'4 shape dete a ubar lan r t s is pl d p > to an� i owes to e re s n s are hai sb ue chi W.r ap.,error as naturuc ch ie gua use onea �tr�tc,; J ah ents;� doh' `GM 10:4 utea �1�Tan' ne 1 Ali PL°ote the publiE 1�sa3 " sferi lh* t` goalC rui less 15' e o `.,nnth "�,elffi ss mom tend a },;h 11 Section 3. That the section of City Plan entitiled "Appendices" be amended by the addition of a new Appendix"C",which Appendix"C" is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit "A". Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 15th day of February, A.D. 2000. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk EYJUBIT "A" APPENDIX C Process and Procedures for Amending City Plan And Comprehensive Plan Elements Thereof CityPlan, and the adopted plan elements which comprise the City's comprehensive plan,are policy documents used to guide decision-making within Fort Collins and the surrounding area. For the. City's comprehensive plan to function over time, it must be able to be reviewed, revised, and updated on an as needed basis in order to respond to significant trends or changes in the economic, physical, social, or political conditions of the City. Amendments to City Plan and related elements may be performed on a yearly basis as needed. A separate process for amending City Plan will be conducted as part of a comprehensive update occurring every five (5) years. The purpose of this section is to outline a process and procedures for amending City Plan,on a more frequent basis,as well as describe the process for amending the adopted related comprehensive plan elements thereof(See Appendix A- Comprehensive Plan Elements). For purposes of this section, there are two forms of plan amendments. Minor Plan Revisions are housekeeping in nature such as correcting a text or map error. Major Plan Amendments are more substantial in nature such as changes or additions to policy language, land use, zoning,boundary line adjustments and street alignments. The process and procedure for making these amendments are described below: Amendment Process and Procedures I. Minor Plan Revisions Minor plan revisions include and are limited to: i. Correcting a text or map error within the plan document such as outdated information, grammatical errors, incorrect symbols and graphics. 2. Adding text or graphics,which have the effect of clarifying a principle or policy of the plan. 3. Minor changes of location and alignment of streets and transit routes based on actual development design(corrections to"as-built"conditions),resulting in revisions to the Master Street Plan and Transit Master Plan. 4. Map legend revisions. 5. Minor land use designation adjustments such as size or boundary changes based on Zoning amendments. The decision-maker for minor plan revisions, is the Community Planning and Environmental Services Director(the"Director"). The Director is responsible for reviewing and making decisions on minor plan revisions. However, prior to making a determination that a revision is minor, the Director will seek the advice of the Council Growth Management Committee to determine whether the change is a minor plan revision or is a major plan amendment. The intent of minor plan revisions is to keep City Plan current and up-to-date. Minor plan revisions may be proposed by anyone. The Director will also determine the appropriate schedule for processing minor plan revisions. Minor plan revisions initiated by citizens shall be considered no more frequently than twice per calendar year(October/April). Revisions initiated by city staff,city boards and commissions, and City Council may be processed at any time. The Director shall conduct a public hearing prior to making a decision on any minor plan revision. The decision of the Director shall require notification in the newspaper of the public hearing at least 14 days prior to the hearing date. At the public hearing, any member of the public may comment upon a proposed minor plan revision. In making his/her decision, the Director shall also seek the advice of any boards and commissions that the Director determines may have a legitimate interest in the proposed revision,provided that such a board or commission is duly authorized pursuant to Chapter 2 of the City Code,to function in such advisory capacity. At any time prior to a decision, the Director can determine that the proposed minor plan revision be changed to a major plan amendment. If approved by the Director,the minor plan revision shall become apart of City Plan,and City Plan shall be revised to include the changes resulting from the revision. A letter of notification will be forwarded to the appropriate boards and commissions when such revision has been finalized. II. Major Plan Amendments Major plan amendments are characterized by requiring a longer review process, greater public interest, and higher level of review involving the Planning and Zoning Board, other boards and commissions, and City Council hearings. Major plan amendments include: 1. Text revisions that include a change of land use,zone district,boundary line adjustment,or street classification. 2. Map changes to land use size or configuration,except those that are defined as a Minor Plan Revision. 3. Street classification revisions or significant re-alignments. 4. Additions, deletions or revisions to goals, principles and policies. 5. Any amendment that is determined by the Director to require a neighborhood meeting. Prior to initiation of the amendment process, the appropriate neighborhood meetings and other outreach meetings will have been conducted before public hearings are scheduled for the Planning and Zoning Board. 6. Any amendment that is not considered a minor plan revision. Major plan amendments shall be considered by the City Council, after recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Board, Council Growth Management Committee, City staff, and any boards and commissions thatmay have a legitimate interest in the proposed amendment,provided that such board or commission is duly authorized pursuant to Chapter 2 of the City Code to function in such advisory capacity. Notice of such Council action shall be given as required for resolutions pursuant to the City Charter. The City Council shall then approve, approve with conditions, or deny the amendment based on its consideration of the recommendations from the Planning and Zoning Board,Council Growth Management Committee,city staff,boards and commissions,and evidence from the public hearings. Citizen requests for Major Plan Amendment shall be considered by the City Council no more frequently than twice per calendar year(October/April),unless the Director determines the proposed amendment warrants expedited consideration by City Council. Major plan amendment requests based on proposed development projects that involve rezonings may also be processed concurrently with rezoning applications (November/June). Major plan amendments initiated by City Council, . City staff, and boards and commissions,may be processed at any time. Requests shall be submitted to the City's Advance Planning Department at least 60 days prior to the hearing date for the Planning and Zoning Board. The 60-day submittal requirement is necessary in order to permit adequate public notice to be given and to allow adequate time to complete the background work for considering a major plan amendment. A major plan amendment shall be approved if the City Council makes specific findings that: 1. The existing City Plan and/or any related element thereof is in need of the proposed amendment; and 2. The proposed major plan amendment will promote the public welfare and will be consistent with the vision, goals, principles and policies of City Plan and the elements thereof. If adopted by the City Council, City Plan shall be revised to include the changes resulting from the amendment. A letter of notification will be forwarded to the appropriate boards and commissions when the revision(s) have been finalized. •