Section 10609.1 - Procedure for landowner curative amendments(a) A landowner who desires to challenge on substantive grounds the validity of a zoning ordinance or map or any provision thereof, which prohibits or restricts the use or development of land in which he has an interest may submit a curative amendment to the governing body with a written request that his challenge and proposed amendment be heard and decided as provided in section 916.1. The governing body shall commence a hearing thereon within 60 days of the request as provided in section 916.1. The curative amendment and challenge shall be referred to the planning agency or agencies as provided in section 609 and notice of the hearing thereon shall be given as provided in section 610 and in section 916.1.(b) The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with section 908 and all references therein to the zoning hearing board shall, for purposes of this section be references to the governing body: provided, however, That the provisions of section 908(1.2) and (9) shall not apply and the provisions of section 916.1 shall control. If a municipality does not accept a landowner's curative amendment brought in accordance with this subsection and a court subsequently rules that the challenge has merit, the court's decision shall not result in a declaration of invalidity for the entire zoning ordinance and map, but only for those provisions which specifically relate to the landowner's curative amendment and challenge.(c) The governing body of a municipality which has determined that a validity challenge has merit may accept a landowner's curative amendment, with or without revision, or may adopt an alternative amendment which will cure the challenged defects. The governing body shall consider the curative amendments, plans and explanatory material submitted by the landowner and shall also consider: (1) the impact of the proposal upon roads, sewer facilities, water supplies, schools and other public service facilities;(2) if the proposal is for a residential use, the impact of the proposal upon regional housing needs and the effectiveness of the proposal in providing housing units of a type actually available to and affordable by classes of persons otherwise unlawfully excluded by the challenged provisions of the ordinance or map;(3) the suitability of the site for the intensity of use proposed by the site's soils, slopes, woodland, wetlands, flood plains, aquifers, natural resources and other natural features;(4) the impact of the proposed use on the site's soils, slopes, woodlands, wetlands, flood plains, natural resources and natural features, the degree to which these are protected or destroyed, the tolerance of the resources to development and any adverse environmental impacts; and(5) the impact of the proposal on the preservation of agriculture and other land uses which are essential to public health and welfare.1968, July 31, P.L. 805, No. 247, art. VI, § 609.1, added 1972, June 1, P.L. 333, No. 93, § 10, effective in 60 days. Reenacted and amended 1988, Dec. 21, P.L. 1329, No. 170, § 53, effective in 60 days. Amended 2002, Jan. 11, P.L. 13, No. 2, § 3, effective in 90 days; 2002, May 9, P.L. 305, No. 43, § 4, imd. effective.