There shall be a city planning and zoning board consisting of seven (7) members, each of whom must reside within the city and each of whom must be a qualified voter of the City of Sherman.
The members of the board may be appointed by the city council for a partial or full term. All terms of office shall be for three (3) years, or until the successor has been appointed. Service in office for more than eighteen (18) months of a three (3) year term, shall constitute a full term.
Members of the planning and zoning board may serve a maximum of four (4) consecutive terms in any combination of offices. After a member has served their maximum term of office, a one (1) year (360 days) absence from office is required before that person will be eligible for reappointment.
The city planning and zoning board shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) 
To recommend approval or disapproval to any property changes in the zoning plans and requirements of the City of Sherman and of all specific use permits with reference thereto, and to grant any exceptions and make any and all decisions with reference to the zoning laws of the City of Sherman, subject only to the ordinances of the City of Sherman and building codes.
(b) 
To adhere to and follow the recommendations contained in any comprehensive plan for the physical development of the city.
(c) 
To recommend to the city council the adoption of any comprehensive plan or deviation therefrom and make recommendations to the city manager and the city council on all matters affecting the physical development of the city, and this board shall be consulted on all comprehensive plans and implementation thereof as may be adopted or otherwise provided for herein.
(d) 
To formulate any additions to or implementations of any comprehensive plan, which said recommendation, when adopted by the city council, shall become a part of the comprehensive plan.
(e) 
To exercise control over all platting or subdividing on any surface, subsurface or air space and area within the corporate limits of the City of Sherman and outside said corporate limits to the extent authorized by law.
(f) 
Any other powers and duties which may be prescribed by ordinance.
(Ordinance 3048, sec. 2(26), (27), adopted 4/5/75; Ordinance 4267, sec. 2, adopted 1/16/93; Ordinance 4745, sec. 2, adopted 3/8/99; Resolution 6300 adopted 11/20/17; Resolution 6561 adopted 11/18/19)
Editor's note–Ordinance 3048, sec. 2(28), adopted 4/5/75, repealed art. VII, sec. 2, relative to the board of adjustment.
(a) 
Content.
The council may accept as advisory and as a guide, and may from time to time modify, a comprehensive plan setting forth in graphic and textual form policies to govern the future physical development of the city. Such plan may cover the entire city and all of its functions and services or may consist of a combination of plans governing specific functions and services or specific geographic areas, which together cover the entire city and all of its functions and services.
(b) 
Acceptance.
Upon receipt from the city manager of a proposed comprehensive plan or a proposed modification of the existing plan, the city planning and zoning board, which shall within a time specified by the city manager report its recommendations thereon to the city council. After receipt of the recommendations of the planning and zoning board, the council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed comprehensive plan or modification thereof and shall thereafter accept it, as advisory and as a guide, by resolution with or without amendment, or deny it. (Subsec. (b) amnd. by 5/7/05 election, proposition no. 8)
(c) 
Effect.
The comprehensive plan shall serve as a guide and is advisory only to all future council action concerning land use and development regulations, urban renewal programs and expenditures for capital improvements.
(d) 
Implementation of the comprehensive plan.
(1) 
LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS. The council may by ordinance adopt land use and development regulations, and zoning and subdivision regulations.
(2) 
URBAN RENEWAL. The council may by ordinance provide for redevelopment, rehabilitation, conservation, and renewal programs for: (1) the alleviation or prevention of slums, obsolescence, blight, or other conditions of deterioration and (2) the achievement of the most appropriate use of land. No funds or credit of the city shall be expended or lent until approval by a majority of the qualified electors of said city, those electors being owners of property therein.
(3) 
COUNCIL ACTION. Before acting on any proposed ordinance concerning land use and development regulations, and urban renewal, where such ordinance refers to a matter covered by the comprehensive plan, the city manager shall refer the proposal to the city planning and zoning board, which shall, within a time specified by the city manager, report its recommendations thereon to the city council. After receipt of the recommendations, the council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance and shall vote to accept, modify or deny it. Upon adopting any such ordinance, the council shall make findings and report on the relationship between the ordinance and the comprehensive plan and, in the event that the ordinance does not accord with the comprehensive plan, the plan shall be deemed to be amended in accordance with such findings and report. The city council may, by a majority vote of the members present and voting, put in abeyance for a reasonable time all land use applications related to matters already under consideration for revision or amendment by the planning and zoning board until the board's recommendations may be considered by the city council and final action taken.
(Ordinance 4745, sec. 2, adopted 3/8/99; Subsec. (d)(3) amnd. by 5/7/05 election, proposition no. 9)