[Adopted 11-12-1991 by Ord. No. 9-91-0181 as Ch. 14, Art. II, of the 1991 Code]
In accordance with R.I.G.L. § 45-22-1 et seq., there is hereby established a Planning Commission for the Town.
A. 
The Planning Commission shall consist of nine members residing in the Town. Appointments shall be made by the Town Council for terms of five years, with no more than three terms to expire each year.
B. 
No member of the Commission shall be an elected or appointed official or employee of the Town, or of any department, office or agency of the Town, except that the Town Manager, the Director of Planning and Development and the Town Engineer shall be ex officio members of the Commission without the right to vote.
C. 
A vacancy in the membership of the Commission shall be filled by the Town Council for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Any Planning Commission member may be removed by the Town Council for due cause following a public hearing.
The Town Council may provide and set standards for compensation of the members of the Planning Commission within the limitations of funds appropriated for that purpose, and may, within such limits, provide for reimbursement of any expenses incurred by members in the performance of their duties.
The Planning Commission shall organize annually by electing a Chairman, a Vice Chairman and a Secretary. The Planning Commission may adopt bylaws for the performance of the duties prescribed in this article.
Within the limits of the funds appropriated for its use, the Planning Commission may engage technical or clerical assistance to aid in the discharge of its duties. The Planning Commission may, subject to confirmation of the Town Council and within the limits of the funds appropriated to it, enter into cooperative agreements with private, state, regional or federal agencies for technical assistance and studies deemed to be in the best interest of the community.
The Planning Commission shall have the authority to call upon other departments, boards and committees of the Town and upon regional, state and federal agencies for assistance in the performance of its designated functions, and shall cooperate with such Town, regional, state and federal agencies on matters of community, regional and state planning.
The Commission shall act in an advisory capacity to the director of planning and development, the Town Manager and the Town Council, in all matters concerning the physical growth and development of the Town as such growth and development affects the general health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the Town.
A. 
Studies of Town resources and needs. The Planning Commission shall make studies of the resources and needs of the Town with reference to its physical, economic and social growth and development, as affecting the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the people. Such studies, plans and reports may concern the following:
(1) 
Land use and land use regulations.
(2) 
Transportation facilities.
(3) 
Public facilities and site locations, including recreation areas, schools, fire, police and other principal structures and developments.
(4) 
Public utilities.
(5) 
Blighted areas, including plans for redevelopment, renewal, rehabilitation or conservation.
(6) 
Problems of housing and the development of housing programs.
(7) 
Natural resource conservation.
(8) 
Environmental protection.
(9) 
Protection from disaster.
(10) 
Economic and sociological characteristics.
(11) 
Preservation of historic sites and buildings.
(12) 
Economic development.
B. 
Assistance in preparation of capital budget and capital improvement program. The Planning Commission shall assist in the preparation of the annual capital budget and a comprehensive long-range capital improvement program for submission to the Town Manager and Town Council.
C. 
Authority with respect to platting and subdivision of land.
(1) 
The Planning Commission shall have the authority to adopt, modify and amend rules and regulations governing the platting and other subdivisions of land, subject to the approval of the Town Council.
(2) 
The Planning Commission shall have the authority to approve all plats or other subdivisions of land before any plat or subdivision may be recorded in the land evidence records of the Town or used as the basis for the sale of lots.
D. 
Advisory opinions on zoning and other matters. The Planning Commission shall submit an advisory opinion and recommendation on all zoning matters referred to it and any other matter referred to it by the Town Council.
E. 
Annual report; other reports and studies. The Planning Commission shall submit an annual report to the Town Council summarizing the work of the preceding year and recommending programs, plans and actions for future development. A copy of the annual report shall be forwarded to the State Department of Community Affairs. All studies, plans and reports of the Planning Commission shall be submitted to the Town Council and to any other designated agency or official and thereafter, upon approval of the Town Council, may be published for general circulation.
In addition to the duties prescribed in this article, the Planning Commission shall carry out such other duties as may be assigned to it from time to time by any act of the General Assembly or by any ordinance, code, regulation, order or resolution of the Town Council.