Process for adoption of comprehensive plan or plan amendment.

(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:

(a) “Affected person” includes the affected local government; persons owning property, residing, or owning or operating a business within the boundaries of the local government whose plan is the subject of the review; owners of real property abutting real property that is the subject of a proposed change to a future land use map; and adjoining local governments that can demonstrate that the plan or plan amendment will produce substantial impacts on the increased need for publicly funded infrastructure or substantial impacts on areas designated for protection or special treatment within their jurisdiction. Each person, other than an adjoining local government, in order to qualify under this definition, shall also have submitted oral or written comments, recommendations, or objections to the local government during the period of time beginning with the transmittal hearing for the plan or plan amendment and ending with the adoption of the plan or plan amendment.

(b) “In compliance” means consistent with the requirements of ss. 163.3177, 163.3178, 163.3180, 163.3191, 163.3245, and 163.3248, with the appropriate strategic regional policy plan, and with the principles for guiding development in designated areas of critical state concern and with part III of chapter 369, where applicable.

(c) “Reviewing agencies” means:

1. The state land planning agency;

2. The appropriate regional planning council;

3. The appropriate water management district;

4. The Department of Environmental Protection;

5. The Department of State;

6. The Department of Transportation;

7. In the case of plan amendments relating to public schools, the Department of Education;

8. In the case of plans or plan amendments that affect a military installation listed in s. 163.3175, the commanding officer of the affected military installation;

9. In the case of county plans and plan amendments, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; and

10. In the case of municipal plans and plan amendments, the county in which the municipality is located.

(2) COMPREHENSIVE PLANS AND PLAN AMENDMENTS.—

(a) Plan amendments adopted by local governments shall follow the expedited state review process in subsection (3), except as set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c).

(b) Plan amendments that qualify as small-scale development amendments may follow the small-scale review process in s. 163.3187.

(c) Plan amendments that are in an area of critical state concern designated pursuant to s. 380.05; propose a rural land stewardship area pursuant to s. 163.3248; propose a sector plan pursuant to s. 163.3245 or an amendment to an adopted sector plan; update a comprehensive plan based on an evaluation and appraisal pursuant to s. 163.3191; propose a development that is subject to the state coordinated review process pursuant to s. 380.06; or are new plans for newly incorporated municipalities adopted pursuant to s. 163.3167, must follow the state coordinated review process in subsection (4).

(3) EXPEDITED STATE REVIEW PROCESS FOR ADOPTION OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS.—

(a) The process for amending a comprehensive plan described in this subsection shall apply to all amendments except as provided in paragraphs (2)(b) and (c) and shall be applicable statewide.

(b)1. If a plan amendment or amendments are adopted, the local government, after the initial public hearing held pursuant to subsection (11), shall transmit, within 10 working days after the date of adoption, the amendment or amendments and appropriate supporting data and analyses to the reviewing agencies. The local governing body shall also transmit a copy of the amendments and supporting data and analyses to any other local government or governmental agency that has filed a written request with the governing body.

2. The reviewing agencies and any other local government or governmental agency specified in subparagraph 1. may provide comments regarding the amendment or amendments to the local government. State agencies shall only comment on important state resources and facilities that will be adversely impacted by the amendment if adopted. Comments provided by state agencies shall state with specificity how the plan amendment will adversely impact an important state resource or facility and shall identify measures the local government may take to eliminate, reduce, or mitigate the adverse impacts. Such comments, if not resolved, may result in a challenge by the state land planning agency to the plan amendment. Agencies and local governments must transmit their comments to the affected local government such that they are received by the local government not later than 30 days after the date on which the agency or government received the amendment or amendments. Reviewing agencies shall also send a copy of their comments to the state land planning agency.

3. Comments to the local government from a regional planning council, county, or municipality shall be limited as follows:

a. The regional planning council review and comments shall be limited to adverse effects on regional resources or facilities identified in the strategic regional policy plan and extrajurisdictional impacts that would be inconsistent with the comprehensive plan of any affected local government within the region. A regional planning council may not review and comment on a proposed comprehensive plan amendment prepared by such council unless the plan amendment has been changed by the local government subsequent to the preparation of the plan amendment by the regional planning council.

b. County comments shall be in the context of the relationship and effect of the proposed plan amendments on the county plan.

c. Municipal comments shall be in the context of the relationship and effect of the proposed plan amendments on the municipal plan.

d. Military installation comments shall be provided in accordance with s. 163.3175.

4. Comments to the local government from state agencies shall be limited to the following subjects as they relate to important state resources and facilities that will be adversely impacted by the amendment if adopted:

a. The Department of Environmental Protection shall limit its comments to the subjects of air and water pollution; wetlands and other surface waters of the state; federal and state-owned lands and interest in lands, including state parks, greenways and trails, and conservation easements; solid waste; water and wastewater treatment; and the Everglades ecosystem restoration.

b. The Department of State shall limit its comments to the subjects of historic and archaeological resources.

c. The Department of Transportation shall limit its comments to issues within the agency’s jurisdiction as it relates to transportation resources and facilities of state importance.

d. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shall limit its comments to subjects relating to fish and wildlife habitat and listed species and their habitat.

e. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall limit its comments to the subjects of agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture issues.

f. The Department of Education shall limit its comments to the subject of public school facilities.

g. The appropriate water management district shall limit its comments to flood protection and floodplain management, wetlands and other surface waters, and regional water supply.

h. The state land planning agency shall limit its comments to important state resources and facilities outside the jurisdiction of other commenting state agencies and may include comments on countervailing planning policies and objectives served by the plan amendment that should be balanced against potential adverse impacts to important state resources and facilities.

(c)1. The local government shall hold a second public hearing, which shall be a hearing on whether to adopt one or more comprehensive plan amendments pursuant to subsection (11). If the local government fails, within 180 days after receipt of agency comments, to hold the second public hearing, the amendments are deemed withdrawn unless extended by agreement with notice to the state land planning agency and any affected person that provided comments on the amendment. If the amendments are not adopted at the second public hearing, the amendments shall be formally adopted by the local government within 180 days after the second public hearing is held or the amendments are deemed withdrawn.

2. All comprehensive plan amendments adopted by the governing body, along with the supporting data and analysis, shall be transmitted within 30 working days after the final adoption hearing to the state land planning agency and any other agency or local government that provided timely comments under subparagraph (b)2. If the local government fails to transmit the comprehensive plan amendments within 30 working days after the final adoption hearing, the amendments are deemed withdrawn.

3. The state land planning agency shall notify the local government of any deficiencies within 5 working days after receipt of an amendment package. For purposes of completeness, an amendment shall be deemed complete if it contains a full, executed copy of:

a. The adoption ordinance or ordinances;

b. In the case of a text amendment, the amended language in legislative format with new words inserted in the text underlined, and words deleted stricken with hyphens;

c. In the case of a future land use map amendment, the future land use map clearly depicting the parcel, its existing future land use designation, and its adopted designation; and

d. Any data and analyses the local government deems appropriate.

4. An amendment adopted under this paragraph does not become effective until 31 days after the state land planning agency notifies the local government that the plan amendment package is complete. If timely challenged, an amendment does not become effective until the state land planning agency or the Administration Commission enters a final order determining the adopted amendment to be in compliance.

(4) STATE COORDINATED REVIEW PROCESS.—

(a) Coordination.—The state land planning agency shall only use the state coordinated review process described in this subsection for review of comprehensive plans and plan amendments described in paragraph (2)(c). Each comprehensive plan or plan amendment proposed to be adopted pursuant to this subsection shall be transmitted, adopted, and reviewed in the manner prescribed in this subsection. The state land planning agency shall have responsibility for plan review, coordination, and the preparation and transmission of comments, pursuant to this subsection, to the local governing body responsible for the comprehensive plan or plan amendment.

(b) Local government transmittal of proposed plan or amendment.—Each local governing body proposing a plan or plan amendment specified in paragraph (2)(c) shall transmit the complete proposed comprehensive plan or plan amendment to the reviewing agencies within 10 working days after the first public hearing pursuant to subsection (11). The transmitted document shall clearly indicate on the cover sheet that this plan amendment is subject to the state coordinated review process of this subsection. The local governing body shall also transmit a copy of the complete proposed comprehensive plan or plan amendment to any other unit of local government or government agency in the state that has filed a written request with the governing body for the plan or plan amendment.

(c) Reviewing agency comments.—The agencies specified in paragraph (b) may provide comments regarding the plan or plan amendments in accordance with subparagraphs (3)(b)2.-4. However, comments on plans or plan amendments required to be reviewed under the state coordinated review process shall be sent to the state land planning agency within 30 days after receipt by the state land planning agency of the complete proposed plan or plan amendment from the local government. If the state land planning agency comments on a plan or plan amendment adopted under the state coordinated review process, it shall provide comments according to paragraph (d). Any other unit of local government or government agency specified in paragraph (b) may provide comments to the state land planning agency in accordance with subparagraphs (3)(b)2.-4. within 30 days after receipt by the state land planning agency of the complete proposed plan or plan amendment. Written comments submitted by the public shall be sent directly to the local government.

(d) State land planning agency review.—

1. If the state land planning agency elects to review a plan or plan amendment specified in paragraph (2)(c), the agency shall issue a report giving its objections, recommendations, and comments regarding the proposed plan or plan amendment within 60 days after receipt of the proposed plan or plan amendment. Notwithstanding the limitation on comments in sub-subparagraph (3)(b)4.g., the state land planning agency may make objections, recommendations, and comments in its report regarding whether the plan or plan amendment is in compliance and whether the plan or plan amendment will adversely impact important state resources and facilities. Any objection regarding an important state resource or facility that will be adversely impacted by the adopted plan or plan amendment shall also state with specificity how the plan or plan amendment will adversely impact the important state resource or facility and shall identify measures the local government may take to eliminate, reduce, or mitigate the adverse impacts. When a federal, state, or regional agency has implemented a permitting program, a local government is not required to duplicate or exceed that permitting program in its comprehensive plan or to implement such a permitting program in its land development regulations. This subparagraph does not prohibit the state land planning agency in conducting its review of local plans or plan amendments from making objections, recommendations, and comments regarding densities and intensities consistent with this part. In preparing its comments, the state land planning agency shall only base its considerations on written, and not oral, comments.

2. The state land planning agency review shall identify all written communications with the agency regarding the proposed plan amendment. The written identification must include a list of all documents received or generated by the agency, which list must be of sufficient specificity to enable the documents to be identified and copies requested, if desired, and the name of the person to be contacted to request copies of any identified document.

(e) Local government review of comments; adoption of plan or amendments and transmittal.—

1. The local government shall review the report submitted to it by the state land planning agency, if any, and written comments submitted to it by any other person, agency, or government. The local government shall, upon receipt of the report from the state land planning agency, hold its second public hearing to determine whether to adopt the comprehensive plan or one or more comprehensive plan amendments pursuant to subsection (11). If the local government fails to hold the second hearing and adopt the amendments within 180 days after receipt of the state land planning agency’s report, the amendments shall be deemed withdrawn unless extended by agreement with notice to the state land planning agency and any affected person that provided comments on the amendment. The 180-day limitation does not apply to amendments processed pursuant to s. 380.06.

2. All comprehensive plan amendments adopted by the governing body, along with the supporting data and analysis, shall be transmitted within 10 working days after the final adoption hearing to the state land planning agency and any other agency or local government that provided timely comments under paragraph (c). If the local government fails to transmit the comprehensive plan amendments within 10 working days after the final adoption hearing, the amendments are deemed withdrawn.

3. The state land planning agency shall notify the local government of any deficiencies within 5 working days after receipt of a plan or plan amendment package. For purposes of completeness, a plan or plan amendment shall be deemed complete if it contains a full, executed copy of each of the following:

a. The adoption ordinance or ordinances;

b. In the case of a text amendment, the amended language in legislative format with new words inserted in the text underlined, and words deleted stricken with hyphens;

c. In the case of a future land use map amendment, the future land use map clearly depicting the parcel, its existing future land use designation, and its adopted designation; and

d. Any data and analyses the local government deems appropriate.

4. After the state land planning agency makes a determination of completeness regarding the adopted plan or plan amendment, the state land planning agency shall have 45 days to determine whether the plan or plan amendment is in compliance with this act. Unless the plan or plan amendment is substantially changed from the one commented on, the state land planning agency’s compliance determination shall be limited to objections raised in the objections, recommendations, and comments report. During the period provided for in this subparagraph, the state land planning agency shall issue, through a senior administrator or the secretary, a notice of intent to find that the plan or plan amendment is in compliance or not in compliance. The state land planning agency shall post a copy of the notice of intent on the agency’s Internet website. Publication by the state land planning agency of the notice of intent on the state land planning agency’s Internet site is prima facie evidence of compliance with the publication requirements of this subparagraph.

5. A plan or plan amendment adopted under the state coordinated review process shall go into effect pursuant to the state land planning agency’s notice of intent. If timely challenged, an amendment does not become effective until the state land planning agency or the Administration Commission enters a final order determining the adopted amendment to be in compliance.

(5) ADMINISTRATIVE CHALLENGES TO PLANS AND PLAN AMENDMENTS.—

(a) Any affected person as defined in paragraph (1)(a) may file a petition with the Division of Administrative Hearings pursuant to ss. 120.569 and 120.57, with a copy served on the affected local government, to request a formal hearing to challenge whether the plan or plan amendments are in compliance as defined in paragraph (1)(b). This petition must be filed with the division within 30 days after the local government adopts the amendment. The state land planning agency may not intervene in a proceeding initiated by an affected person.

(b) The state land planning agency may file a petition with the Division of Administrative Hearings pursuant to ss. 120.569 and 120.57, with a copy served on the affected local government, to request a formal hearing to challenge whether the plan or plan amendment is in compliance as defined in paragraph (1)(b). The state land planning agency’s petition must clearly state the reasons for the challenge. Under the expedited state review process, this petition must be filed with the division within 30 days after the state land planning agency notifies the local government that the plan amendment package is complete according to subparagraph (3)(c)3. Under the state coordinated review process, this petition must be filed with the division within 45 days after the state land planning agency notifies the local government that the plan amendment package is complete according to subparagraph (4)(e)3.

1. The state land planning agency’s challenge to plan amendments adopted under the expedited state review process shall be limited to the comments provided by the reviewing agencies pursuant to subparagraphs (3)(b)2.-4., upon a determination by the state land planning agency that an important state resource or facility will be adversely impacted by the adopted plan amendment. The state land planning agency’s petition shall state with specificity how the plan amendment will adversely impact the important state resource or facility. The state land planning agency may challenge a plan amendment that has substantially changed from the version on which the agencies provided comments but only upon a determination by the state land planning agency that an important state resource or facility will be adversely impacted.

2. If the state land planning agency issues a notice of intent to find the comprehensive plan or plan amendment not in compliance with this act, the notice of intent shall be forwarded to the Division of Administrative Hearings of the Department of Management Services, which shall conduct a proceeding under ss. 120.569 and 120.57 in the county of and convenient to the affected local jurisdiction. The parties to the proceeding shall be the state land planning agency, the affected local government, and any affected person who intervenes. No new issue may be alleged as a reason to find a plan or plan amendment not in compliance in an administrative pleading filed more than 21 days after publication of notice unless the party seeking that issue establishes good cause for not alleging the issue within that time period. Good cause does not include excusable neglect.

(c) An administrative law judge shall hold a hearing in the affected local jurisdiction on whether the plan or plan amendment is in compliance.

1. In challenges filed by an affected person, the comprehensive plan or plan amendment shall be determined to be in compliance if the local government’s determination of compliance is fairly debatable.

2.a. In challenges filed by the state land planning agency, the local government’s determination that the comprehensive plan or plan amendment is in compliance is presumed to be correct, and the local government’s determination shall be sustained unless it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the comprehensive plan or plan amendment is not in compliance.

b. In challenges filed by the state land planning agency, the local government’s determination that elements of its plan are related to and consistent with each other shall be sustained if the determination is fairly debatable.

3. In challenges filed by the state land planning agency that require a determination by the agency that an important state resource or facility will be adversely impacted by the adopted plan or plan amendment, the local government may contest the agency’s determination of an important state resource or facility. The state land planning agency shall prove its determination by clear and convincing evidence.

(d) If the administrative law judge recommends that the amendment be found not in compliance, the judge shall submit the recommended order to the Administration Commission for final agency action. The Administration Commission shall make every effort to enter a final order expeditiously, but at a minimum within the time period provided by s. 120.569.

(e) If the administrative law judge recommends that the amendment be found in compliance, the judge shall submit the recommended order to the state land planning agency.

1. If the state land planning agency determines that the plan amendment should be found not in compliance, the agency shall make every effort to refer the recommended order and its determination expeditiously to the Administration Commission for final agency action, but at a minimum within the time period provided by s. 120.569.

2. If the state land planning agency determines that the plan amendment should be found in compliance, the agency shall make every effort to enter its final order expeditiously, but at a minimum within the time period provided by s. 120.569.

3. The recommended order submitted under this paragraph becomes a final order 90 days after issuance unless the state land planning agency acts as provided in subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2. or all parties consent in writing to an extension of the 90-day period.

(f) Parties to a proceeding under this subsection may enter into compliance agreements using the process in subsection (6).

(g) The prevailing party in a challenge filed under this subsection is entitled to recover attorney fees and costs in challenging or defending a plan or plan amendment, including reasonable appellate attorney fees and costs.

(6) COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT.—

(a) At any time after the filing of a challenge, the state land planning agency and the local government may voluntarily enter into a compliance agreement to resolve one or more of the issues raised in the proceedings. Affected persons who have initiated a formal proceeding or have intervened in a formal proceeding may also enter into a compliance agreement with the local government. All parties granted intervenor status shall be provided reasonable notice of the commencement of a compliance agreement negotiation process and a reasonable opportunity to participate in such negotiation process. Negotiation meetings with local governments or intervenors shall be open to the public. The state land planning agency shall provide each party granted intervenor status with a copy of the compliance agreement within 10 days after the agreement is executed. The compliance agreement shall list each portion of the plan or plan amendment that has been challenged, and shall specify remedial actions that the local government has agreed to complete within a specified time in order to resolve the challenge, including adoption of all necessary plan amendments. The compliance agreement may also establish monitoring requirements and incentives to ensure that the conditions of the compliance agreement are met.

(b) Upon the filing of a compliance agreement executed by the parties to a challenge and the local government with the Division of Administrative Hearings, any administrative proceeding under ss. 120.569 and 120.57 regarding the plan or plan amendment covered by the compliance agreement shall be stayed.

(c) Before its execution of a compliance agreement, the local government must approve the compliance agreement at a public hearing advertised at least 10 days before the public hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the area in accordance with the advertisement requirements of chapter 125 or chapter 166, as applicable.

(d) The local government shall hold a single public hearing for adopting remedial amendments.

(e) For challenges to amendments adopted under the expedited review process, if the local government adopts a comprehensive plan amendment pursuant to a compliance agreement, an affected person or the state land planning agency may file a revised challenge with the Division of Administrative Hearings within 15 days after the adoption of the remedial amendment.

(f) For challenges to amendments adopted under the state coordinated process, the state land planning agency shall issue a cumulative notice of intent addressing both the remedial amendment and the plan or plan amendment that was the subject of the agreement within 20 days after receiving a complete plan or plan amendment adopted pursuant to a compliance agreement.

1. If the local government adopts a comprehensive plan or plan amendment pursuant to a compliance agreement and a notice of intent to find the plan amendment in compliance is issued, the state land planning agency shall forward the notice of intent to the Division of Administrative Hearings and the administrative law judge shall realign the parties in the pending proceeding under ss. 120.569 and 120.57, which shall thereafter be governed by the process contained in paragraph (5)(a) and subparagraph (5)(c)1., including provisions relating to challenges by an affected person, burden of proof, and issues of a recommended order and a final order. Parties to the original proceeding at the time of realignment may continue as parties without being required to file additional pleadings to initiate a proceeding, but may timely amend their pleadings to raise any challenge to the amendment that is the subject of the cumulative notice of intent, and must otherwise conform to the rules of procedure of the Division of Administrative Hearings. Any affected person not a party to the realigned proceeding may challenge the plan amendment that is the subject of the cumulative notice of intent by filing a petition with the agency as provided in subsection (5). The agency shall forward the petition filed by the affected person not a party to the realigned proceeding to the Division of Administrative Hearings for consolidation with the realigned proceeding. If the cumulative notice of intent is not challenged, the state land planning agency shall request that the Division of Administrative Hearings relinquish jurisdiction to the state land planning agency for issuance of a final order.

2. If the local government adopts a comprehensive plan amendment pursuant to a compliance agreement and a notice of intent is issued that finds the plan amendment not in compliance, the state land planning agency shall forward the notice of intent to the Division of Administrative Hearings, which shall consolidate the proceeding with the pending proceeding and immediately set a date for a hearing in the pending proceeding under ss. 120.569 and 120.57. Affected persons who are not a party to the underlying proceeding under ss. 120.569 and 120.57 may challenge the plan amendment adopted pursuant to the compliance agreement by filing a petition pursuant to paragraph (5)(a).

(g) This subsection does not prohibit a local government from amending portions of its comprehensive plan other than those that are the subject of a challenge. However, such amendments to the plan may not be inconsistent with the compliance agreement.

(h) This subsection does not require settlement by any party against its will or preclude the use of other informal dispute resolution methods in the course of or in addition to the method described in this subsection.

(7) MEDIATION AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION.—

(a) At any time after the matter has been forwarded to the Division of Administrative Hearings, the local government proposing the amendment may demand formal mediation or the local government proposing the amendment or an affected person who is a party to the proceeding may demand informal mediation or expeditious resolution of the amendment proceedings by serving written notice on the state land planning agency if a party to the proceeding, all other parties to the proceeding, and the administrative law judge.

(b) Upon receipt of a notice pursuant to paragraph (a), the administrative law judge shall set the matter for final hearing no more than 30 days after receipt of the notice. Once a final hearing has been set, no continuance in the hearing, and no additional time for post-hearing submittals, may be granted without the written agreement of the parties absent a finding by the administrative law judge of extraordinary circumstances. Extraordinary circumstances do not include matters relating to workload or need for additional time for preparation, negotiation, or mediation.

(c) Absent a showing of extraordinary circumstances, the administrative law judge shall issue a recommended order, in a case proceeding under subsection (5), within 30 days after filing of the transcript, unless the parties agree in writing to a longer time.

(d) For a case following the procedures under this subsection, absent written consent of the parties or a showing of extraordinary circumstances, if the administrative law judge recommends that the amendment be found not in compliance, the Administration Commission shall issue a final order within 45 days after issuance of the recommended order. If the administrative law judge recommends that the amendment be found in compliance, the state land planning agency shall issue a final order within 45 days after issuance of the recommended order. If the state land planning agency fails to timely issue a final order, the recommended order finding the amendment to be in compliance immediately becomes the final order.

(8) ADMINISTRATION COMMISSION.—

(a) If the Administration Commission, upon a hearing pursuant to subsection (5), finds that the comprehensive plan or plan amendment is not in compliance with this act, the commission shall specify remedial actions that would bring the comprehensive plan or plan amendment into compliance.

(b) The commission may specify the sanctions provided in subparagraphs 1. and 2. to which the local government will be subject if it elects to make the amendment effective notwithstanding the determination of noncompliance.

1. The commission may direct state agencies not to provide funds to increase the capacity of roads, bridges, or water and sewer systems within the boundaries of those local governmental entities which have comprehensive plans or plan elements that are determined not to be in compliance. The commission order may also specify that the local government is not eligible for grants administered under the following programs:

a. The Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program, as authorized by ss. 290.0401-290.048.

b. The Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program, as authorized by chapter 375.

c. Revenue sharing pursuant to ss. 206.60, 210.20, and 218.61 and chapter 212, to the extent not pledged to pay back bonds.

2. If the local government is one which is required to include a coastal management element in its comprehensive plan pursuant to s. 163.3177(6)(g), the commission order may also specify that the local government is not eligible for funding pursuant to s. 161.091. The commission order may also specify that the fact that the coastal management element has been determined to be not in compliance shall be a consideration when the department considers permits under s. 161.053 and when the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund considers whether to sell, convey any interest in, or lease any sovereignty lands or submerged lands until the element is brought into compliance.

3. The sanctions provided by subparagraphs 1. and 2. do not apply to a local government regarding any plan amendment, except for plan amendments that amend plans that have not been finally determined to be in compliance with this part, and except as provided in this paragraph.

(9) GOOD FAITH FILING.—The signature of an attorney or party constitutes a certificate that he or she has read the pleading, motion, or other paper and that, to the best of his or her knowledge, information, and belief formed after reasonable inquiry, it is not interposed for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay, or for economic advantage, competitive reasons, or frivolous purposes or needless increase in the cost of litigation. If a pleading, motion, or other paper is signed in violation of these requirements, the administrative law judge, upon motion or his or her own initiative, shall impose upon the person who signed it, a represented party, or both, an appropriate sanction, which may include an order to pay to the other party or parties the amount of reasonable expenses incurred because of the filing of the pleading, motion, or other paper, including a reasonable attorney’s fee.

(10) EXCLUSIVE PROCEEDINGS.—The proceedings under this section shall be the sole proceeding or action for a determination of whether a local government’s plan, element, or amendment is in compliance with this act.

(11) PUBLIC HEARINGS.—

(a) The procedure for transmittal of a complete proposed comprehensive plan or plan amendment pursuant to subparagraph (3)(b)1. and paragraph (4)(b) and for adoption of a comprehensive plan or plan amendment pursuant to subparagraphs (3)(c)1. and (4)(e)1. shall be by affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the members of the governing body present at the hearing. The adoption of a comprehensive plan or plan amendment shall be by ordinance. For the purposes of transmitting or adopting a comprehensive plan or plan amendment, the notice requirements in chapters 125 and 166 are superseded by this subsection, except as provided in this part.

(b) The local governing body shall hold at least two advertised public hearings on the proposed comprehensive plan or plan amendment as follows:

1. The first public hearing shall be held at the transmittal stage. It shall be held on a weekday at least 7 days after the day that the first advertisement is published pursuant to the requirements of chapter 125 or chapter 166.

2. The second public hearing shall be held at the adoption stage. It shall be held on a weekday at least 5 days after the day that the second advertisement is published pursuant to the requirements of chapter 125 or chapter 166.

(c) Nothing in this part is intended to prohibit or limit the authority of local governments to require a person requesting an amendment to pay some or all of the cost of the public notice.

(12) CONCURRENT ZONING.—At the request of an applicant, a local government shall consider an application for zoning changes that would be required to properly enact any proposed plan amendment transmitted pursuant to this section. Zoning changes approved by the local government are contingent upon the comprehensive plan or plan amendment transmitted becoming effective.

(13) AREAS OF CRITICAL STATE CONCERN.—No proposed local government comprehensive plan or plan amendment that is applicable to a designated area of critical state concern shall be effective until a final order is issued finding the plan or amendment to be in compliance as defined in paragraph (1)(b).