The Commission shall consist of seven members
appointed by the County Commissioners for staggered five-year terms
or until a successor takes office. Five members shall be appointed
to represent each of the five County Commissioner districts. The remaining
two members shall be appointed to serve as at-large representatives.
Members may, after a public hearing, be removed from office by the
County Commissioners for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance
in office. The County Commissioners shall file a written statement
of reasons for such removal. Vacancies occurring otherwise than through
the expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term by the
County Commissioners. Members may serve with such compensation as
the County Commissioners deem appropriate.
The Commission shall elect a Chairman from its
membership. The Chairman's term shall be one year with eligibility
for reelection. The Commission shall hold at least one regular meeting
each month. It shall adopt rules for the transaction of business,
which shall be posted in the office of the Director of Planning and
available to the public in written form, and shall keep a public record
of its resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations. The
Commission shall be responsible for securing and releasing legal counsel
within the limits of the budget approved by the County Commissioners.
A.
Included among the duties of the Planning Commission
under this chapter are the following:
(1)
The Commission shall make investigations and recommendations with regard to zoning amendment applications as directed by the County Commissioners as prescribed in § 155-5 of this chapter.
(2)
The Commission shall advise the Board of Appeals on all applications for special exceptions and variances as prescribed in § 155-24 of this chapter.
(3)
The Commission shall approve site plans when required
by this chapter or when required by the Board of Appeals.
[Amended 6-8-2004 by Bill No. 2004-5]
A.
Creation of office. There is hereby established the
office of Director of Planning for Dorchester County. The County Council
shall appoint a Director of Planning for Dorchester County who shall
serve at the pleasure of the Council and shall report directly to
the County Manager. The Director of Planning shall be subject to County
fiscal and personnel policies.
B.
Administration and enforcement.
(1)
This chapter shall be administered and enforced by
the Director of Planning. The Director may be provided with the assistance
of such other persons as the County Council may direct, and he may
delegate, upon the approval of the County Manager, such duties and
responsibilities in connection with the administration and enforcement
of this chapter as are appropriate, in his judgment.
(2)
If the Director of Planning shall find that any of
the provisions of this chapter are being violated, he shall notify,
by certified mail, the person responsible for such violation, indicating
the nature of the violation and ordering the action necessary to correct
it within a reasonable length of time. If, at the conclusion of said
reasonable length of time, the violation has not, in the judgment
of the Director of Planning, been satisfactorily corrected, then the
Director shall order or seek means to bring about the correction of
such violation, including the discontinuance of the illegal use, buildings
or structures or of illegal additions, alterations or structural changes
or the discontinuance of any illegal work or activity being done,
or shall take any other action authorized by law to ensure compliance
with or prevent violation of the provisions of this chapter.
