If in any municipality in which the provisions of this act shall have become operative in the manner hereinbefore provided, there shall be filed with the clerk of the municipality a petition signed by at least 15% of the qualified legal voters of the municipality, as evidenced by the total number of votes cast at the then next preceding general election in such municipality, requesting that there shall be submitted to the voters of the municipality the question of rescinding the adoption of the provisions of this act by the municipality, the said question shall be submitted to the legal voters of the municipality at the next general election succeeding the forty-fourth day following the date of the filing of said petition.
N.J.S. § 5:8-47