(1) 
There is hereby established a Planning and Zoning Commission which shall consist of at least seven (7) members who shall be appointed by the Town Council to staggered terms of two (2) years in accordance with any ordinance adopted by the Town Council. The Commission members shall be qualified Town voters. Any vacancy occurring during the unexpired term of a member shall be filled by the Town Council for the remainder of the unexpired term. In October of each year, the Commission shall elect from its members a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary to serve for one (1) year beginning in that month. Members of the Commission may be removed by an affirmative vote of a majority of the full membership of the Town Council.
(2) 
The Commission shall meet at least once a month. The Commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings which shall be of public record. Minutes will be recorded by the Commission Secretary. The Commission shall serve without compensation.
(3) 
A majority of the full membership of the Commission members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transaction of business. No action or recommendation of the Commission, except as specifically provided in this Charter, shall be valid or binding unless adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Commission members present. The Chairman shall be a voting member of the Commission. If the Vice-Chairman presides over the meeting in the Chairman's absence, the Vice-Chairman shall vote.
(1) 
The Commission shall be responsible to and act as an advisory board to the Town Council. The Commission shall:
(A) 
Review all current and proposed ordinances and amendments pertaining to planning and zoning and make recommendations to the Town Council for action to be taken;
(B) 
Make proposals to the Town Council to amend, extend and add to the Comprehensive Plan for the physical development of the Town;
(C) 
Keep public records of its resolutions, findings and determinations; and
(D) 
Review plats and zoning requests and make recommendations to the Town Council for final adoption of same.
(2) 
The Commission, shall have full power to:
(A) 
Exercise the authority of the Commission as provided by state law, this Charter and Town ordinances;
(B) 
Make reports and recommendations relating to the Comprehensive Plan and development of the Town; and
(C) 
Adopt plats, if it has been given that authority by the Town Council.
(3) 
The affirmative vote of a majority of the Town Council present is required to overrule a recommendation of the Commission that a proposed zoning amendment, supplement, or change be denied.
(1) 
All rules and regulations adopted by the Commission shall be forwarded in writing to the Town Manager who shall submit them to the Town Council with the Town Manager's recommendations. The Town Council may amend, adopt or reject any such rules or regulations. If any rules or regulations should be rejected, the Commission may modify them and submit such modified rules and recommendations to the Town Council.
(2) 
Should any person on the Commission have a conflict of interest, pursuant to any state laws and/or Town ordinances regulating conflicts of interest of municipal officers, with an agenda item then before the Commission, he or she shall openly declare same before discussion proceeds, and he or she is thereby prohibited from discussing the item or voting on the question, and is not considered as present and voting for the purposes of the tally.
(3) 
Should any person on the Commission choose to abstain from voting on any question before the Commission, where no conflict of interest exists, the person's vote shall be recorded as an abstention in the official minutes of the meeting.
(1) 
The Comprehensive Plan shall include, but not be limited to, the Future Land Use Plan and the Thoroughfare Plan. The existing Comprehensive Plan for the physical development of the Town contains recommendations for the growth, development and beautification of the Town and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. Additions to and amendments of the Comprehensive Plan shall be by ordinance or resolution, but before any such revision, the Commission shall hold at least one (1) public hearing on the proposed action.
(2) 
A copy of the proposed revisions to the Comprehensive Plan shall be forwarded to the Town Manager who shall submit the proposal to the Town Council, together with the Town Manager's recommendations, if any. The Town Council, after a public hearing, shall adopt or reject such proposed revision or any part thereof as submitted within sixty (60) days following its submission by the Town Manager. If the proposed revisions or part thereof should be rejected by the Town Council, the Town Council may request the Commission to make other modifications and again forward it to the Town Manager for submission to the Town Council.
(3) 
Following the adoption by the Town Council of the Comprehensive Plan, and any revisions thereto, it shall serve as a guide to all future Town Council action concerning land use and development regulations and expenditures for capital improvements. Any proposal which deviates from the Comprehensive Plan regarding land use and development regulations shall not be authorized until and unless the location and extent thereof shall have been submitted to and approved by the Commission. In case of denial, the Commission shall communicate its reasons to the Town Council, which shall have the power to overrule such denial with the affirmative vote of a majority of the Town Council present, and upon such overruling, the Town Council or the appropriate office, department or agency shall have authority to proceed.