The purpose and intent of this chapter is to establish a planning commission pursuant to state law to advise the city council on the long range growth and development of Richland, including changes to the city's land use regulations. The Richland planning commission conducts public hearings and other forums throughout the year to seek public input on items under consideration.
(Ord. 54-18 § 1)
There is created a planning commission (hereinafter referred to as the "commission") composed of seven members appointed by the city council. Members shall serve staggered four-year terms and until their successors are appointed and confirmed. General requirements of participation on the planning commission include:
A. 
General knowledge of the council's community priorities;
B. 
A strong desire to be involved with land use development on behalf of the city of Richland;
C. 
The following backgrounds are desirable: urban planning, architecture, transportation, civil engineering, geology, or economic development;
D. 
Participation in community activities and time availability will also be considered.
(Ord. 23; Ord. 342; Ord. 461; Ord. 742 § 1.02; Ord. 765; Ord. 806 § 1.14; Ord. 7-80 § 1.02; Ord. 16-84; Ord. 39-90; Ord. 40-91; Ord. 40-98; Ord. 14-03; Ord. 38-05; Ord. 42-14 § 1.01; Ord. 54-18 § 1; Ord. 06-20 § 1)
The commission shall hold at least one regular meeting in each month of the year, unless cancelled by the chairperson as a result of having no business to conduct or for other good cause. Each new commissioner will be required to participate in city-provided training for planning commissioners within the first six months of appointment. Some travel for such training may be required. Quorum shall be determined by RMC § 2.04.110(M), except to the extent that RMC § 23.70.210 controls.
(Ord. 23 § 1.03; Ord. 342 § 1.02; Ord. 392 § 1.01; Ord. 806 § 1.15; Ord. 16-84 § 1.03; Ord. 40-91; Ord. 28-05; Ord. 38-05; amended during 2011 recodification; Ord. 42-14 § 1.01; Ord. 54-18 § 1)
The commission shall perform the following duties:
A. 
Serve as an advisor to the city council in order to promote the orderly physical development and growth of the city;
B. 
Prepare a comprehensive plan for the orderly physical and social development of the city. The physical dimension of the comprehensive plan, for which the planning commission is responsible, shall include among its purposes and be designed to:
1. 
Encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the municipality;
2. 
Lessen traffic congestion and accidents;
3. 
Secure safety from fire;
4. 
Provide adequate light and air;
5. 
Prevent overcrowding of land;
6. 
Avoid undue concentration of population;
7. 
Provide for the preservation of clean air, clean water and the natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic qualities of the environment;
8. 
Promote a coordinated development of undeveloped area;
9. 
Encourage the formation of neighborhood and community units;
10. 
Secure an appropriate allotment of land area in new developments for all requirements of community life;
11. 
Conserve and restore natural beauty and other natural resources;
12. 
Analyze flood protection;
13. 
Address the identification and preservation of historical buildings and places and archaeologically significant areas; and
14. 
Consider garbage, sewage treatment and solid waste disposal.
The comprehensive plan shall become the official plan of the city when approved by the city council and filed with the county auditor. The comprehensive plan shall be reviewed on an annual basis by the planning commission to consider updates and changes, and provide those recommendations to the city council. The commission may recommend to the city council the plan prepared as a whole, or may recommend parts of the plan by successive recommendations, the parts corresponding with geographic or political sections, divisions or subdivisions of the city, or with functional subdivisions of the subject matter of the plan. The commission shall comply with requirements of notice and public hearing provided by law in initiating and recommending the whole or parts of the comprehensive plan;
C. 
Recommend, or prepare and recommend, for the adoption by the city council, regulations, amendments, extensions or additions to such regulations or plans for the physical development of the city in the interest of health, safety or general welfare, including, but not limited to, the following:
1. 
The use of buildings and land for residence, trade, industrial and other purposes;
2. 
The height, number of stories, size, construction and design of buildings and other structures;
3. 
The size of yards, courts and other open spaces on the lot or tract;
4. 
The density of population;
5. 
The setback of buildings along highways, parks or public water frontages; and
6. 
The subdivision and development of land;
D. 
Act as a research and fact-finding agency of the city. The commission shall cause to be made such surveys, analyses, studies and reports as are generally authorized or requested by the city council;
E. 
Establish such other work project priorities as the city council may direct;
F. 
Review, discuss and analyze such work products and projects as may be referred to the commission by the council or staff;
G. 
Form, subject to advance approval of the city council, ad hoc committees from within as well as outside its membership, to study specific problems or projects which may arise from time to time. The planning commission shall at all times be available for citizen input concerning any matter which the commission is considering, or may consider;
H. 
Evaluate and monitor the sensitive area policies and regulations to determine whether they are effective and, if not, how they should be improved to effectively protect the functions and values of critical areas;
I. 
Review and make recommendations to the city council on the city's consolidated planning strategy and on the housing element of the city's comprehensive plan;
J. 
Provide recommendations to city council regarding Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Tri-Cities HOME Consortium funding awards.
1. 
Review federal requirements for the administration of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs and make recommendations on program procedures to the city council;
2. 
Review applications for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and make recommendations on project funding to the city council.
(Ord. 23 § 1.05; Ord. 567 § 1.01; Ord. 595 § 1.03; Ord. 715 § 1.01; Ord. 806 § 1.16; Ord. 40-98; Ord. 38-05; Ord. 17-14 § 1.01; Ord. 14-15 § 3; Ord. 54-18 § 1)
The invalidity of any chapter, section, subsection, provision, clause or portion thereof, or the invalidity of the application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this chapter or the validity of its application to other persons or circumstances.
(Ord. 23 § 1.08; Ord. 54-18 § 1)