[HISTORY: Adopted by the City of Norwalk Common Council 9-28-2021.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former Ch. 79, Planning and Zoning Commissions, adopted 2-9-1988, as amended 3-10-1992 and 3-28-1995.
Pursuant to the authority granted to the Common Council by § 1-368.2 of the Charter of the City of Norwalk and § 8-4a of the Connecticut General Statutes, the Planning Commission of the City of Norwalk is hereby designated as the Planning and Zoning Commission for Norwalk (hereinafter, the Commission).
The Commission shall have all of the powers and be subject to all of the duties granted to and imposed upon planning and zoning commissions under the Connecticut General Statutes, together with all of the powers and duties specifically granted to and imposed upon the Planning Commission under the Charter of the City of Norwalk.
A. 
The Commission shall consist of nine regular members, provided that no more than six such members may be registered members of any one political party, and provided further, that there shall be not more than three regular members from any one Council District. All of such members shall be electors of the City of Norwalk.
B. 
Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Common Council. If the Mayor shall fail to submit a nomination within 60 days after a vacancy, either by reason of expiration of term or for any other reason, such vacancy shall thereafter be filled by nomination and approval of the Common Council. If the Mayor shall have submitted a nomination to fill a vacancy within the sixty-day period and the Common Council shall have rejected or failed to act upon such nomination, the seat shall be vacated. The Mayor may submit the same or different nominations thereafter until the same shall have been approved by the Common Council. In no instance shall a member serve more than five consecutive terms as a regular member. No member of the Commission shall be a regular or alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
There shall be appointed, in the manner provided in § 79-3 above, three alternate members to the Commission, no more than two of whom shall be registered members of any one political party. Such alternate members shall, when seated as herein provided, have all the powers and duties set forth above for regular members of the Commission. Such alternate members shall be electors and shall not be regular or alternate members of the Zoning Board of Appeals. If a regular member of the Commission is absent, they may designate, in writing, an alternate member of the Commission to act in their place. If they fail to make such designation or the person so designated is disqualified, the Chair of the Commission shall designate an alternate to so act, choosing alternates in rotation so that they shall act as nearly equal a number of times as possible. If any alternate is not available in accordance with such rotation, such fact shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
A. 
Regular members. The terms of the regular members shall be as follows: three of said members shall be appointed for terms ending January 1, 2023; three of said members for terms ending January 1, 2024; and three of said members shall be appointed for terms ending January 1, 2025. Thereafter, upon the expiration of the term of any such member, their successor shall be appointed for a term of three years.
B. 
Alternate members. One alternate shall be appointed for a term ending January 1, 2023, one alternate for a term ending January 1, 2024, and one alternate for a term ending January 1, 2025. Thereafter, upon the expiration of the term of any such alternate member, their successor shall be appointed for a term of three years.
A. 
The Commission shall organize and elect officers, maintain records, contract, prepare budgets, and do all other things permitted or directed by the provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes and the Charter of the City of Norwalk, insofar as the latter are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes. All employees of the Planning Commission and the Zoning Commission as of the effective date of this chapter shall be employees of the Commission.
B. 
There shall be a Director of Planning and Zoning, who shall be appointed by the Commission based on the recommendation of a search committee. Such committee shall consist of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission, the Chief of Economic and Community Development, and the City's Personnel Director or designee. There may be an Assistant Director of Planning and Zoning who shall be appointed in the same manner, except that the Director of Planning and Zoning shall replace the Personnel Director on the search committee.
C. 
Nothing contained herein shall be construed to alter the terms and conditions of any collective bargaining agreement applicable hereto.
D. 
Staff of the Commission shall be appointed by the Director and employed pursuant to the City's Personnel Rules and Regulations.
All regulations adopted by the Planning Commission or the Zoning Commission which were in effect prior to the effective date of this chapter shall continue in full force and effect until modified, repealed, or superseded in accordance with the provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes.
This chapter shall take effect on January 11, 2022.