(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, an application for approval of a site specific development plan as well as the approval, conditional approval, or denial of approval of the plan shall be governed only by the duly adopted laws and regulations in effect at the time the application is submitted to a local government. For purposes of this section, "laws and regulations" includes any zoning law of general applicability adopted by a local government as well as any zoning or development regulations that have previously been adopted for the particular parcel described in the plan and that remain in effect at the time of the application for approval of the plan.
(2) Notwithstanding the limitations contained in subsection (1) of this section, a local government may adopt a new or amended law or regulation when necessary for the immediate preservation of public health and safety and may enforce such law or regulation in relation to applications pending at the time such law or regulation is adopted.
Source: L. 99: Entire section added, p. 861, § 2, effective May 24.