There shall be a Planning, Zoning and Building
Department, administered by a Planning Board which shall be constituted
and empowered in accordance with the provisions of § 27
of the General City Law. The Common Council shall fix the number of
members of the Planning Board consistent with the provisions of the
General City Law. The terms of the members of the Planning Board shall
be fixed so that the term of one member only expires at the end of
each official year of the city. Each term shall be equal in years
to the number of members of the Planning Board; provided, however,
that where corrective terms are imposed in order to comply with the
provisions of this section and § 27 of the General City
Law, the term affected may be foreshortened commensurately.
The Planning Board shall have, exercise and
discharge all of the functions, powers and duties of a planning board
under law.
Within any appropriation therefor, a Director
of Planning may be appointed by the Mayor. He shall be under the direction
and supervision of the Planning Board.
The Planning Board within any appropriation
therefor, may employ consultants, from time to time, to assist it
in the performance of its duties.
There shall be a Zoning Board of Appeals which
shall be constituted and empowered as a Zoning Board of Appeals pursuant
to § 81 of the General City Law. The Common Council shall
fix the number of members of the Zoning Board of Appeals consistent
with the provisions of the General City Law. The terms of the members
of the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be fixed so that the term of
one member only expires at the end of each official year of the city.
Each term shall be equal in years to the number of members of the
Zoning Board of Appeals; provided, however, that where corrective
terms are imposed in order to comply with the provisions of this section
and § 81 of the General City Law, the term affected may
be foreshortened commensurately. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall
hear and decide appeals from, and review any order, requirement, decision
interpretation or determination made by the Building Inspector who
is the administrative official charged with the enforcement of any
ordinance or local law regarding planning, development and land use,
and hear and decide all other matters properly coming before it pursuant
to law.