There shall be created and established a city planning and zoning commission, which shall be composed of five members. The members shall be residents and qualified voters of the city.
(Ordinance 2002-27, sec. 1, adopted 11/12/02)
The mayor shall appoint members of the planning and zoning commission, and each person so appointed must be approved by the city council before becoming a member of the commission. Terms of office shall be staggered for three years so that an overlapping of terms will be accomplished. Terms of office shall begin on the first day of June in accordance with their appointment. All vacancies on the commission shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment of the mayor and confirmation of the city council. Members of the commission may be removed from office by the mayor and a majority vote of the city council. Failure to meet three consecutive scheduled meetings shall be deemed as neglect and cause for removal. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation. The initial members of the commission shall be appointed as follows: two members shall be appointed for a term that ends on the last day of May, 2004, and three members shall be appointed for a term that ends on the last day of May, 2005.
(Ordinance 2002-27, sec. 2, adopted 11/12/02)
The mayor and the city manager shall be ex officio members of the planning and zoning commission and may participate in all meetings of the commission without voting rights.
(Ordinance 2002-27, sec. 3, adopted 11/12/02)
The planning and zoning commission shall elect a chair, vice [and vice-chair] from its membership. The city secretary shall act as the secretary. The 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 comply with the open meetings and open records laws of the state, and which shall be subject to approval of the city council. Such bylaws shall include, among other items, provisions for:
(1) 
Regular and special meetings, open to the public;
(2) 
A record 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) 
Holding public hearings on its recommendations.
(Ordinance 2002-27, sec. 4, adopted 11/12/02)
The planning and zoning commission shall have all the rights, powers, privileges and authority authorized and granted by and through the statutes of the state authorizing and granting cities the power of zoning as found in V.T.C.A., Local Government Code section 211.007.
(Ordinance 2002-27, sec. 5, adopted 11/12/02)
Statutes of the state authorizing and empowering cities to regulate the platting and recording of subdivisions or additions within the corporate limits, and establishing extraterritorial jurisdiction within one-half mile of the city, V.T.C.A., Local Government Code section 42.001 et seq., are adopted; and the commission, acting through its authorized officials, shall have all the rights, powers and privileges and authority authorized and granted by and through such statutes pertaining to regulation of subdivision and extraterritorial powers.
(Ordinance 2002-27, sec. 6, adopted 11/12/02)
The planning and zoning commission shall have the power and it shall be its duty to:
(1) 
Make studies and project plans for the improvement of the city with a view for future development and extension, and to recommend to the city council all matters for the development and improvement of the city’s facilities, and shall pass upon the application for plats requested under V.T.C.A., Local Government Code section 212.001 et seq.
(2) 
Make plans and maps of the whole or any portion of the city and of land outside the city limits located within the planning area of such city limits, and any other land outside the city which in the opinion of the commission bears a relation to the planning of the city, and make such changes in additions and extensions of plans or maps within the city as it deems advisable.
(3) 
Aid and assist the city council in the preparation of the city budget and determination of sources of funds and in procuring of financial and other aid and assistance for the city from state and federal governments and their agencies for each and all of the purposes enumerated in this section.
(4) 
Confer with and advise private property owners pertaining to location and erection of private structures with the view of having structures conform to the overall city plan.
(5) 
Act with and assist all other municipal and governmental agencies, and particularly the city council, in formulating and executing proper plans of municipal development and growth.
(6) 
Plan and recommend the location, scope, character and standards for streets, roads, alleyways, viaducts, bridges, subways, parkways, airports, automobile parking places, utilities, public buildings, schools, parks, playgrounds, railroads, water, lights, sanitation, sewerage, sewage disposal, drainage, flood control, transportation, transportation terminals, communication, marketing and shipping facilities, power and other facilities; and for the removal, relocation, widening, extension, narrowing, vacating, abandoning or changing of use of any of the public places, facilities and utilities referred to in this subsection.
(7) 
Select and recommend to the city council routes of streets, avenues and boulevards, including their opening, widening and abandoning, or of any alley, or their changing to conform with the city’s system, present and future, with reference to traffic, land use and public facilities.
(8) 
Investigate, evaluate and report to the city council upon the layout or platting of any new subdivision of the city, or of property situated within one-half mile of the city limits, and recommend the approval, disapproval or modification of all plans, plats or replats of additions within the city limits or within one-half mile, or of the rejection of either.
(9) 
Recommend to the city council plans for clearance of slums and blighted areas, the prevention of the spread of blight and dilapidation and improvement of housing conditions.
(10) 
Make recommendations concerning future zoning plans.
(11) 
Recommend to the city council, from time to time, passage of such ordinances as may be necessary to carry out the commission’s program.
(12) 
Make recommendations for building codes.
(Ordinance 2002-27, sec. 7, adopted 11/12/02)
Anyone who may be dissatisfied by any action of the planning and zoning commission may appeal said action by requesting that said appeal be placed on a future city council agenda. The item may be placed on the agenda of a regular meeting or the mayor may call a special meeting to hear and act upon the appeal. The city council shall hear from the petitioner, the planning and zoning commission and anyone else who may have information relevant to the issue. The decision of the city council shall be final.
(Ordinance 2002-27, sec. 7, adopted 11/12/02)