[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Town of Rock Hall 10-6-1977
by Ord. No. 26. (The provisions of this chapter are derived
from Chapter 17 of the former Code of Ordinances of the Town of Rock Hall,
adopted 10-6-1977 by Ord. No. 26.) Amendments
noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to the authority and provisions of Article 66B of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1970 Edition), there is hereby created a Municipal Planning
Commission for the Town of Rock Hall. Such Commission shall be known as the
"Rock Hall Planning Commission" and is hereinafter referred to as the "Planning
Commission."
[Amended 8-10-1979 by Ord. No. 79-6; 8-6-1987
by Ord. No. 87-5; 1-8-1998 by Ord.
No. 98-01; 9-10-1998 by Ord. No. 98-06]
A.
The Planning Commission shall consist of seven members.
One member shall be a member of the Council who shall serve during his/her
term of office as a nonvoting member ex officio. One member shall be the Zoning
Administrator who shall serve during his/her term of office as a nonvoting
member. The remaining five members shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed
by the Council.
B.
The members shall reside within the town limits of Rock
Hall and shall be Rock Hall registered voters. The terms shall be five years
or until their successors take office.
C.
A vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of a term
for which a voting member of the Planning Commission is appointed shall be
filled in the manner of original appointment to complete said term.
D.
A majority of the voting members of the Planning Commission
shall constitute a quorum. No action shall be taken without the favorable
vote of a majority of the whole number of appointed voting members.
E.
The Zoning Administrator shall be appointed by the Mayor
and confirmed by the Council for a one-year term.
F.
Members of the Planning Commission may be compensated
in an amount to be fixed from time to time by the Mayor and Council.
The Planning Commission shall elect a Chairman from among its members.
The term of the Chairman shall be one year, with eligibility for reelection.
The Planning Commission shall adopt rules for the transaction of its business.
The Planning Commission shall have the powers and duties as now or hereafter
provided for in Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1970 Edition).
A.
The Planning Commission shall hold public hearings on
all plans, regulations and other proposals for which such hearings are required
under Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1970 Edition). The Planning
Commission shall give at least 15 days' notice of such hearings by an
advertisement published in a newspaper of general circulation in the town
and in an area around the town within one mile from the corporate limits.
Such notice shall include the time and place of the hearing, a description
or summary of the proposals to be considered at the hearing and a place where
a copy of such proposals can be obtained. At any such hearings, interested
persons shall be afforded an opportunity to submit data, views or regulations
with respect to the proposals under consideration.
B.
A written record shall be prepared of any public hearing
held by the Planning Commission. Any regulations or other proposals in connection
with planning and zoning that are adopted by the Planning Commission shall
be adopted by a yea and nay vote in open session.
[Amended 8-6-1987 by Ord. No. 87-5; 1-8-1998
by Ord. No. 98-01]
The Town Clerk shall be the recording secretary of the Planning Commission.
The Mayor and Council shall appoint an attorney to serve as counsel for the
Planning Commission. All applications, plats, maps and other matters required
to be filed with the Planning Commission by Article 66B of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1970 Edition) or regulations adopted pursuant thereto shall be
deemed filed when filed with the Zoning Administrator, who shall be responsible
for presenting all such applications, plats, maps and other matters to the
Planning Commission for its consideration for action.
The Planning Commission shall make and approve a plan which shall be
recommended to the Mayor and Council of Rock Hall for adoption and which shall
serve as a guide to decisions to ensure the development of public and private
property both inside the Town of Rock Hall and within one mile outside of
its boundaries which, in the judgment of the Planning Commission, bears relation
to the planning responsibilities of the Commission. The plan shall contain,
as a minimum, the elements set forth in Article 66B of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1970 Edition), § 3.05. Also, as provided in said § 3.05,
it shall be the duty of the Planning Commission to recommend the boundaries
of the various zoning districts and appropriate regulations to be enforced
therein, in order that the Mayor and Council may avail themselves of the zoning
powers conferred by the Maryland Code. The Planning Commission shall make
a preliminary report and hold at least one public hearing thereon before submitting
its final report, and the Mayor and Council shall not hold public hearings
or take action until the final report of the Planning Commission has been
received.
