Howard County                                   2631

(b)  Any person may petition the County Council of Howard County
to close or relocate a County Road in accordance with Council Rules
5.205 (b) and 5.205(3). Such petitions shall describe in detail the road
to be closed or relocated and shall be accompanied by a certified plat
particularly describing the road to be closed and fifty dollars ($50.00)
to cover the costs of advertising as required by this section. IN ADDI-
TION TO THE ADVERTISING COSTS THE PETITIONER, INCLUD-
ING THE STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT SHALL PAY ALL
COSTS OF NOTIFICATION TO PROPERTY OWNERS REQUIRED BY
THIS ACT.

(c)   The Chairman, upon receipt of a petition to close or relocate a
public road shall cause to be prepared a resolution of the County Council
granting the relief sought and shall cause a public hearing upon the said
resolution to be held not less than thirty (30) days after the filing of
the petition.

(d)  The Secretary shall cause to be published by three separate in-
sertions at weekly intervals in two newspapers of general circulation in
the County, a full description of the road closing or relocation, giving the
date set for the public hearing by the County Council. In addition thereto,
(the road which is the subject of the resolution shall be posted, as directed
by the County Council, for a period of thirty (30) days prior to the public
hearing by the County Council with respect to said resolution.) NOTICE
OF ANY SUCH CLOSING OR RELOCATION OF ANY ROAD SHALL
BE SERVED BY REGISTERED MAIL UPON ALL PERSONS WHOSE
PROPERTY IS CONTIGUOUS AND ADJACENT WITH THE ROAD
AS IT PRESENTLY EXISTS AND WITH THE ROAD AS RELOCATED
AT THE ADDRESSES FOR SUCH PERSONS AS THEY APPEAR AT
THE TIME OF SERVICE IN THE OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISOR OF
ASSESSMENTS.

(e)  Upon the filing of a petition to close or relocate a county road,
the Secretary of the County Council shall request from the Director of
Public Works a report on said closing or relocation to be presented to the
County Council at or prior to the public hearing. The report of the Direc-
tor of Public Works shall include findings as to the effect on public safety
and convenience resulting from the proposed road closing or relocation
and shall recommend denial or approval of the petition.

(f)   In addition thereto, the County Council may, on its own initia-
tive, close, or relocate, county roads provided it shall first comply with
the provisions of this section relating to public notice and public hearing.

(G) NO FILING FOR RECORD OF ANY PLAN OR SUBDIVISION,
PRELIMINARY FINAL PLAT OF RECORD OR FINAL PLAN OF
ANY NEW TOWN DISTRICT, PLANNED COMMUNITY DISTRICT,
NOR ANY APPROVAL THEREOF, OR OTHER DECISION, ACTION
OR RESOLUTION BY ANY BOARD OR AGENCY OTHER THAN A
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL PASSED AFTER COM-
PLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, SHALL
EFFECT THE CLOSING OR RELOCATION OF ANY ROAD, OR BE
CONSIDERED AS REQUIRING THE PASSAGE BY THE COUNTY
COUNCIL OF A RESOLUTION RELOCATING OR CLOSING ANY
ROAD.

Section 2. Be it further enacted by the County Council of Howard
County, Maryland that this Act shall take effect sixty (60) days after
its enactment.