If taxpayers of the district whose property valuation as assessed for taxable purposes within the district amounts to fifty percent of the total property valuation so assessed or if taxpayers representing fifty percent of the parcels within the district present a petition within three months of the adoption of a resolution or ordinance levying an assessment under section 2508¹ to the court of common pleas stating that the assessment insufficiently represents the benefits accruing to abutting properties, they may include in the petition a request for the appointment of viewers to assess benefits. The court shall appoint three disinterested viewers, none of whom shall be a resident of that portion of the township which is accommodated by the sanitary sewer system in question, and the viewers shall proceed under this act for the assessment of damages and benefits by viewers. Upon the filing of a petition by taxpayers for appointment of viewers, any assessment made by the board of supervisors and any proceedings shall be stayed pending the disposition of the petition by the court.