[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.
