Hearing procedure

(1) The plan approval authority lays open the complete plan for inspection within three weeks of its receipt and for the duration of one month. On the demand of a person affected, made to the plan approval authority during the period of the laying open, another, readily accessible means of access is made available to that person. The laying open may be dispensed with where the group of persons affected and the associations under subsection (2), first sentence, no. 2 are known and are given the opportunity, within a reasonable period, to inspect the plan; the second sentence applies correspondingly.
(2) At the plan approval authority, objections to the plan may be raised electronically, or comments submitted electronically, for up to six weeks from the laying open of the plan, by
1. persons affected, including bodies representing public interests, and
2. associations that, on the basis of recognition under other legal provisions, are entitled to lodge legal remedies under the Code of Administrative Court Procedure against the decision under section 74. Where electronic raising or submission cannot reasonably be expected in the individual case, the plan approval authority makes available, on demand, another means of raising or submitting them. In the case of subsection (1), third sentence, the plan approval authority determines a reasonable period for objections. Upon expiry of the period for objections, all objections or comments not based on special grounds under private law are excluded. This must be pointed out when informing of the duration of the period for objections.
(3) The plan approval authority publicly notifies the laying open of the plan beforehand. In the notice it points out that
1. any objections of persons affected must be raised electronically at the plan approval authority within the period for objections;
2. comments of associations under subsection (2), first sentence, no. 2 must be submitted electronically at the plan approval authority within the period for objections;
3. where electronic raising or submission cannot reasonably be expected in the individual case, another manner is made available on demand;
4. upon expiry of the period for objections, all objections not based on special grounds under private law are excluded;
5. should a party fail to appear at a discussion hearing, the matter may be heard even without that party;
6. persons who have raised objections, or associations that have submitted comments, may be notified of the discussion hearing by information on the website of the plan approval authority;
7. service of the decision on the objections and comments may also be effected by publication on the website of the plan approval authority or of its administrative entity; and
8. during the hearing, a person affected is, on that person's demand, provided by the plan approval authority with a readily accessible means of access.
(4) The conduct of informal participation formats is possible. These participation formats are independent of the plan approval procedure and may not pre-empt its outcome.