[Added 11-8-2017 by Ord. No. 286; amended 11-6-2019 by Ord. No. 293]
(a) 
Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 8-4a, the planning commission is hereby designated as the planning and zoning commission for the Town of Groton, and said planning and zoning commission shall have all powers granted to planning commissions, zoning commissions, and planning and zoning commissions by the laws of the State of Connecticut, including, without limitation, the powers granted planning and zoning commissions by Chapters 124 and 126 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
(b) 
The zoning commission shall be abolished and shall cease to exist and the planning commission shall become the planning and zoning commission on the earlier of July 31, 2019 or 45 days after the day on which written certification is given by the director of the office of planning and development services to the town council and town clerk that the comprehensive re-write of the zoning regulations pending before the zoning commission on the date of passage of this division by the town council has been adopted by the zoning commission. As of the date on which the zoning commission is abolished hereunder, the planning and zoning commission shall have jurisdiction over all applications, referrals, and other matters of any kind pending before the zoning commission and the planning commission.
[Added 11-8-2017 by Ord. No. 286; amended 11-6-2019 by Ord. No. 293]
The planning and zoning commission shall consist of five regular members and three alternates, all of whom shall serve five-year terms, and each of whom shall be a resident elector of the town and appointed by a majority vote of the town council. The present terms of office of the five regular and three alternate members of the planning commission, including any currently vacant seats, shall continue until their current expiration date. Thereafter, the town council shall appoint regular and alternate members for terms of five years. The terms of the two additional seats for regular members created hereby shall terminate on December 31, 2021. No regular or alternate member of the planning and zoning commission may concurrently be a regular or alternate member of the Town of Groton zoning board of appeals.
[Added 11-8-2017 by Ord. No. 286]
Alternate members shall have all the powers and duties conferred on alternate members of a planning and zoning commission by the General Statutes. Alternates shall be designated to act according to a regular rotation process so as to assure to the extent practicable equal participation by each in the affairs of the planning and zoning commission.
[Added 11-8-2017 by Ord. No. 286]
The town council shall by an affirmative vote of five fill all vacancies of the regular and alternate members of the planning and zoning commission for the unexpired portion of any term.