(a)
There
is hereby created and established for the city a planning and zoning
commission, which shall be composed of seven (7) members, four (4)
constituting a quorum. The members shall be resident citizens and
qualified voters of the city, all of whom shall be appointed by the
governing body, to serve for terms of two (2) years. The city manager
or his designee shall serve as a nonvoting ex officio member of the
planning and zoning commission.
(b)
Any
planning and zoning commission member with three (3) or more consecutive
absences from regularly scheduled meetings of the commission may be
removed at the discretion of city council. The chairman of planning
and zoning commission, or the city manager or his designee, will notify
the city secretary of the absences. The city secretary will notify
the city council who may, at its discretion, declare a vacancy and
appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy for the remainder of
the term.
(Ordinance 806-16 adopted 12/16/16)
The planning and zoning commission shall elect a chairman and
vice-chairman from its membership and the city council shall furnish
such qualified persons as may be necessary for the proper conduct
and undertakings of the planning and zoning commission. The planning
and zoning commission shall have the power to make rules, regulations
and bylaws for its own government, which shall conform as nearly as
possible with those governing the city council, and same shall be
subject to approval by such city council. Such bylaws shall include,
among other items, provisions for:
(1)
Regular
and special meetings, open to the public;
(2)
Records
of its proceedings, to be open for inspection by the public;
(3)
Reporting
to the governing body and the public, from time to time and annually;
and
(4)
The
holding of public hearings on its recommendations.
(Ordinance 806-16 adopted 12/16/16)
(a)
The
planning and zoning commission is a locally appointed city board charged
with making recommendations to the city council regarding zoning districts,
zoning regulations, and other zoning matters; reviewing and making
recommendations to the city council regarding the comprehensive plan
and other planning matters; approving plats or replats of any subdivisions
within the city limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ); and
making recommendations to the city council regarding changes and updates
to the city’s subdivision regulations. The city council shall,
except with regard to plats and replats, retain the right to final
approvals and disapprovals. The commission shall collect data and
keep itself informed as to best practices in effect in the matter
of city planning and zoning to be qualified to act on measures affecting
the present and future movement of traffic, the segregation of residential,
business districts and other districts and the convenience and safety
of persons and property in any way dependent on city planning and
zoning, as directed by city council.
(b)
The
planning and zoning commission shall have the power and it shall be
its duty to make and recommend for adoption a comprehensive plan,
as a whole or in parts, for the future development and redevelopment
of the municipality and its environs. The powers and duties and comprehensive
plan among other things, but not limited thereto, will include:
(1)
To make studies and project plans for the improvements of the city,
with a view of its development and extensions, and to recommend to
the city council all matters for the development and advancement of
the city facilities, layouts and appearance, and to perform the duties
imposed upon the city planning commission by applicable laws and ordinances.
(2)
To make plans and maps of the whole or any portion of the city and
of land outside the city limits located within its extraterritorial
jurisdiction (ETJ), and any other land outside the city which in the
opinion of the city planning commission bears a relation to the planning
of the city, and to make such changes in additions and extensions
of plans or maps within the city as it deems same advisable.
(3)
To act with and assist all other municipal and governmental agencies
and especially the city council in formulating and executing proper
plans for municipal development.
(4)
To plan and recommend the location, plan and extent of city alleyways,
parks, playgrounds, airports, automobile parking places, and other
public grounds and public improvements, for the location and planning
of public buildings, schools and other properties, and of public utilities,
including bus terminals, railroad depots and terminals, whether public
or privately owned, for water, lights, sanitation, sewage disposal,
drainage, flood control, transportation, communication and shipping
facilities, and for the removal, relocation, widening, extension,
narrowing, vacation, abandonment or change of use of any of the foregoing
public places, works, buildings, facilities or utilities.
(5)
To select and recommend to the city council routes of streets, avenues
and boulevards and particularly to investigate and recommend the opening,
widening or abandonment of streets, avenues, boulevards and alleyways
or the changing thereof to conform to the city’s system, present
and future, all streets, avenues, boulevards, alleyways and parks.
(6)
To investigate, consider and report to the city council upon the
layout and plan of any new subdivision in the city or property situated
within the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of the city and to
approve all plans, plats or replats of additions within the city limits
or within its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).
(7)
To recommend to the city council for adoption, rules and regulations
governing plats and subdivisions of land within the corporate limits
of the city or within the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of the
city, to promote health, safety, morals and general welfare of the
community, and the safe and orderly and healthful development of the
community. Such rules and regulations may be adopted by the city council
only after public hearing held thereon.
(8)
To aid and assist the city council by recommending plans for the
development of civic centers and to make investigations, consider
and make recommendations to the city council concerning traffic regulations,
routing and controlling and highway designations.
(9)
To review the city’s building codes and development standards
within the existing zoning districts and recommend any changes.
(Ordinance 806-16 adopted 12/16/16)
