A City Planning Commission is hereby created for the City, in accordance with the provisions of § 15.2-2210 et seq., Chapter 22, Article 2, of the Code of Virginia.
The City Planning Commission shall consist of seven members, one of whom shall be a member of City Council and the remaining six of whom, hereinafter referred to as "appointed members," shall be residents of the City and otherwise qualified as provided by § 15.1-437 of the Code of Virginia.[1] At least 1/2 of the membership of the Commission shall be owners of real property. The appointed members and the Councilman member shall be appointed by the Council. The term of the Councilman member shall in all cases correspond with his or her tenure of office. Members of the Commission serving on June 30, 1988, shall continue to serve until expiration of the current term of appointment. All new appointments and reappointments shall be for a term of four years.
[1]
Editor's Note: See now Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2212.
Any of the appointed members of the City Planning Commission may be removed by the Council for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, provided that such removal may be made only after a public hearing at which such member is given an opportunity to appear and be heard on the charges against him or her.
All members of the City Planning Commission shall serve as such without compensation. Members shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
Any vacancy in the membership of the City Planning Commission shall be filled by appointment of the Council, and such appointment shall be for the unexpired term.
The City Planning Commission shall have the functions, powers and duties which are prescribed by law.
A. 
The Planning Commission shall prepare and recommend a comprehensive plan for the physical development of the territory within its jurisdiction.
B. 
In the preparation of a comprehensive plan, the Commission shall make careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of the existing conditions and trends of growth and of the probable future requirements of its territory and inhabitants. The comprehensive plan shall be made with the purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development of the territory which will, in accordance with present and probable future needs and resources, best promote the health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity and general welfare of the inhabitants.
C. 
The comprehensive plan shall be general in nature, in that it shall designate the general or approximate location, character, and extent of each feature shown on the plan and shall indicate where existing lands or facilities are proposed to be extended, widened, removed, relocated, vacated, narrowed, abandoned, or changed in use, as the case may be.
D. 
The plan, with the accompanying maps, plats, charts, and descriptive matter, shall show the Planning Commission's long-range recommendations for the general development of the territory covered by the plan. It may include, but need not be limited to:
(1) 
The designation of areas for various types of public and private development and use, such as different kinds of residential, business, industrial, agricultural, mineral resources, conservation, recreation, public service, floodplain and drainage, and other areas;
(2) 
The designation of a system of transportation facilities, such as streets, roads, highways, parkways, railways, bridges, viaducts, waterways, airports, ports, terminals, and other like facilities;
(3) 
The designation of a system of community service facilities, such as parks, forests, schools, playgrounds, public buildings and institutions, hospitals, community centers, waterworks, sewage disposal or waste disposal areas, and the like;
(4) 
The designation of historical areas and areas for urban renewal or other treatment;
(5) 
The designation of areas for the implementation of reasonable groundwater protection measures;
(6) 
An official map, a capital improvements program, a subdivision ordinance, a zoning ordinance and zoning district maps, mineral resource district maps and agricultural and forestal district maps, where applicable;
(7) 
The location of existing or proposed recycling centers; and
(8) 
The designation of areas for the implementation of measures to promote the construction and maintenance of affordable housing sufficient to meet the current and future needs of residents of all levels of income in the locality while considering the current and future needs of the planning district within which the locality is situated.