The powers and duties of the Jefferson Planning and Zoning Commission
are further defined in this article.
(Ordinance 2016-07-01 adopted 8/16/2022)
(a)
There is hereby created in accordance with V.T.C.A., Local Government
Code, sec. 211.007, a city planning and zoning commission, which shall
consist of seven (7) members, each of whom shall be a resident of
the city or resident of the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Members shall be appointed by the city council. The city council shall
appoint the members in the following manner. Each city council member
and the mayor is entitled to one nomination, for a total of seven
(7) nominees. Each nominee shall be approved by a majority vote of
the city council. If a nominee fails to gain approval, that person
putting forth the name of a failed nominee shall be entitled to nominate
a different individual. Councilmembers are not required to nominate
persons from their ward.
(b)
The terms of office for the members shall be two (2) years. The terms
shall coincide with the councilmember who nominated them.
(c)
The initial terms shall align to current elected officials with staggered
replacements and evolve into a normal two-year term as follows:
(1)
Fall 2022.
4 initial appointees will follow their
sponsors and serve for a term until July 1, 2024. The other 3 initial
appointees will follow their sponsors and serve for a term until July
1, 2023.
(2)
Spring 2023.
Beginning with the city council elections
in May 2023, each appointed group will serve full two-year terms aligned
with their elected officials.
(d)
Membership criteria is someone having the basic background and experience
to actively contribute and assist the commission's goal and operations.
It shall include persons with experience in municipal zoning and ordinances,
historic preservation, architecture, building, construction, remodeling,
legal or accounting backgrounds, as well as city, county, or state
operations. Citizens currently occupying another city appointed or
elected role (mayor, city council, Jedco, or tourism) are not eligible
unless they resign their other role.
(e)
Members may be removable at any time, with or without cause, by a
majority vote of the city council for any reason. All members shall
serve without pay. The commission's secretary shall keep minutes
of all meetings held by the planning and zoning commission and full
record of all recommendations to be made by the planning and zoning
commission to the city council. A chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary
shall be elected by the planning and zoning commission from its membership
at its first meeting, after new members have been appointed, or as
soon thereafter as possible.
(Ordinance 2016-07-01 adopted 8/16/2022)
Four (4) members of the planning and zoning commission shall
constitute a quorum, and all members, including the presiding chairman,
shall have the right of one vote each, a quorum being present. All
actions by the planning and zoning commission shall be by a majority
vote of those members present. If any member has a conflict of interest
regarding any item on the commission's agenda, he or she shall
recuse themselves and refrain from voting only on the item for which
a conflict exists.
(Ordinance 2016-07-01 adopted 8/16/2022)
The planning and zoning commission shall meet at such times
in city hall or other specified locations as may be designated by
the chairman or vice-chairman, and at such intervals as may be necessary
to orderly and properly transact the business of the planning and
zoning commission.
(Ordinance 2016-07-01 adopted 8/16/2022)
The planning and zoning commission shall be an advisory body
to the city council and shall make recommendations regarding amendments
to the city's comprehensive master plan or local strategic planning
process, make changes in zoning, and determine permanent zoning to
be given to newly annexed areas. The planning and zoning commission
shall also make recommendations regarding the approval of the plats
of subdivisions as may be submitted to it by the city council. The
commission shall also make recommendations as to guidelines for construction
in the historic district. It is recommended that the planning and
zoning commission make an annual study of the city's comprehensive
master plan and to be prepared to make recommendations to the city
council that it deems necessary to keep the city's master plan
up-to-date with the city's needs. The planning and zoning commission
shall serve in an advisory capacity on any planning related item(s)
in the city.
(Ordinance 2016-07-01 adopted 8/16/2022)
