(1) The local government shall hold a public hearing before designating an area or activity of state interest and adopting guidelines for administration thereof.

(2) (a) Notice, stating the time and place of the hearing and the place at which materials relating to the matter to be designated and guidelines may be examined, shall be published once at least thirty days and not more than sixty days before the public hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the county.

(b) Any person may request, in writing, that his name and address be placed on a mailing list to receive notice of all hearings held pursuant to this section. If the local government decides to maintain such a mailing list, it shall mail notices to each person paying an annual fee reasonably related to the cost of production, handling, and mailing of such notice. In order to have his name and address retained on said mailing list, the person shall resubmit his name and address and pay such fee before January 31 of each year.

(3) Within thirty days after completion of the public hearing, the local government, by order, may adopt, adopt with modification, or reject the particular designation and guidelines; but the local government, in any case, shall have the duty to designate any matter which has been finally determined to be a matter of state interest and adopt guidelines for the administration thereof.

(4) After a matter of state interest is designated pursuant to this section, no person shall engage in development in such area, and no such activity shall be conducted until the designation and guidelines for such area or activity are finally determined pursuant to this article.

(5) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2005, p. 668, § 4, effective June 1, 2005.)