A. If a written request for a hearing on the determination of status is received by the planning services division within thirty days of recordation of the notice of intention to determine status, the community development director shall set a time, date and place for a director’s hearing.

B. The city shall notify the property owner of the time and place of the director’s hearing by certified mail. The hearing shall be conducted not more than sixty days following the receipt of the property owner’s request for hearing, but may be postponed or continued with the mutual consent of community development director and the property owner.

C. At the hearing, the property owner shall be given the opportunity to present evidence that the affected property does not meet the requirements for merger as set forth in Section 16.12.030.

D. At the conclusion of the hearing, the community development director shall make a determination as to whether the affected parcels are to be merged or not to be merged and shall notify the owner of his or her determination.

E. The community development director may make a determination of merger if the affected property meets the standards for merger specified in Section 16.12.030. The community development director may make a determination of nonmerger whether or not the affected property meets the standards for merger specified in Section 16.12.030. (Ord. 2007-08 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)