(a) Powers and duties. The city's planning and development department, under the direction and supervision of the planning and development director, shall have the following powers and duties, to be carried out in accordance with the terms of this chapter:
(1) To review all applications for development approval for compliance with the terms of this chapter;
(2) To serve on and coordinate the activities of the technical review committee established in section 7-3-5;
(3) To provide the city council, the planning and zoning commission, the board of adjustment, the historic resources commission of the city and Buncombe County, the tree commission and the downtown commission with reports and recommendations regarding matters before those bodies, either as required by this chapter, other laws and regulations, or upon the request of the body;
(4) To enforce compliance with the terms of this chapter in accordance with article XVIII of this chapter;
(5) To provide final review and approval of plans, plats, and permits as set forth in this chapter; and
(6) Such additional powers and duties as may be set forth for the city's planning and development department elsewhere in this chapter and other laws and regulations of the city.
(b) Conflicts of interest. No staff member shall make a final decision on an administrative decision related to a development regulation if that decision would have a direct, substantial, and readily identifiable financial impact on the staff member or if the applicant or other person subject to that decision is a person with whom the staff member has a close familial, business, or other associational relationship, pursuant to N.C.G.S. §160D-109(c).
(Ord. No. 2369, § 1, 5-27-97; Ord. No. 2619, § 1(c), 9-28-99; Ord. No. 4381, § 1(G), 6-8-21)