The City Council shall have the powers and duties in regard to zoning as set forth in the Local Government Code of the Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas and any amendments thereto or successor statutes.
The City Council shall cooperate in every manner possible with persons interested in the development of property within or beyond the city limits. No expenditure of public funds, however, shall be authorized for the development of private-owned subdivisions situated within or beyond the corporate limits of the city, except for the extension of utilities or services to such areas and over-sizing of any infrastructure deemed necessary for future development and as otherwise authorized or provided for by State Law.
(Ordinance 2020-24, prop. E, adopted 11/9/20)
The City Council shall appoint, within sixty (60) days after the adoption of this Charter, a city planning and zoning commission of seven (7) members who shall be residents of the City of El Campo, shall serve without compensation, and shall not be employed or hold any other position in the city government.
(a)
Term of Office.
The term of office for the seven (7) member planning and zoning commission shall be three (3) years.
(b)
Rules of Procedure.
The commission shall elect annually, one of its number, chairman, and shall establish its own rules of procedure which shall include the following: a quorum shall consist of a majority of the members of the commission and an affirmative vote of a majority of those present shall be necessary to pass upon pending questions, the chairman being entitled to vote upon any question. All meetings shall be open to the public and a record of all proceedings shall be kept, which record shall be filed with the person performing the duties of City Secretary and shall be a public record.
(c)
Vacancies.
Membership on the planning and zoning commission shall be accompanied by active participation in the activities of the commission, and any member who is absent from three (3) consecutive meetings of the commission without valid excuse, as determined by the commission, shall automatically be dismissed from membership. The commission shall at once notify the City Council that a vacancy in the planning and zoning commission exists. Vacancies occurring in the commission, for whatever reason, shall be filled within thirty (30) days by appointment by the City Council for the unexpired term.
(d)
Powers and Duties.
The commission shall have the power to:
(1)
Make, amend, extend and add to the master plan for the physical development of the city.
(2)
Approve or disapprove plats of proposed subdivisions submitted in accordance with Section 8.02 of this Charter. In considering such plats, the Planning and Zoning Commission shall require that the proposed subdivisions shall meet, so far as is practicable, the City of El Campo’s Design and Development Standards. Upon approving such plats, and before they are released for recording, the Planning and Zoning Commission shall submit all copies of the approved plats to the City Council for approval.
(3)
Draft and recommend to the City Council for adoption, rules and regulations governing platting and subdividing of land as authorized by Section 8.02.
(4)
Make, and recommend to the City Council for adoption, a zoning plan and recommend or disapprove proposed changes in such plan.
(5)
Meet not less than once each six (6) months; meetings to be held at the City Hall unless prior notice of change of meeting place be given by publication in a newspaper in general circulation in the City of El Campo.
(6)
Perform such other duties and be vested with such other powers as the City Council shall from time to time prescribe.
(e)
Liaison With City Council.
The City Manager, or appointed representative, shall attend the meetings of the planning and zoning commission and shall serve as liaison between the planning and zoning commission and the city boards.
(Ordinance 2020-24, prop. F, adopted 11/9/20)
The City Council shall provide for the appointment of a Board of Adjustment, whose members shall be residents of the City of El Campo and shall serve without compensation and not be employed or hold any other position in the city government. The term of office, powers of the Board of Adjustment and rules of procedure for operation of such board shall be established by ordinance of the City Council.