(A) Short title. This section shall be known and may be cited as “The Blue Island Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals Ordinance.”
(B) Commission created. A Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals (“Board”) is created for the city. Any reference to “Plan Commission” or “Planning Commission” or “Zoning Board of Appeals” within this code shall refer to the Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals created herein.
(C) Appointment; term; compensation.
(1) The members of the Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals shall be the same as the members of the Zoning Board of Appeals, and will be appointed by the Mayor with the consent and approval of the City Council. The Board shall consist of seven members to serve for a term of five years.
(2) Membership on the Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals shall be under the same terms as membership on the Zoning Board of Appeals, as provided in § 165.082 of this code.
(D) Organization, bylaws and meetings.
(1) The Board shall adopt such bylaws governing its procedures and regulating its business as it, from time to time, deems proper and necessary, consistent with city ordinances or state laws. The adoption and amendment of the bylaws shall be by a majority vote of the members of the Commission. Every member of the Commission shall be furnished with a copy of proposed bylaws or amendments thereto at least ten days prior to any action taken thereon by the Board. The Board shall keep written records of its proceedings with shall be open to public inspection.
(2) In the event of a conflict between the bylaws of the Board and the rules and procedures of the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Commission bylaws shall control.
(E) Powers and duties.
(1) The Board shall prepare and recommend the following for consideration and adoption by the Mayor and Aldermen:
(a) A statement of goals and objectives to help guide growth and development in the city and its environs;
(b) A comprehensive plan for the present and future development and redevelopment of the city. This plan may be adopted in whole or in separate geographical or functional parts, each of which, when adopted by the Mayor and Aldermen, shall be the official comprehensive plan or part thereof;
(c) Such amendments to the plan as may be deemed necessary;
(d) An official map of the city and such later revisions in the map as may be deemed necessary by the Board or Mayor and Aldermen; and
(e) Plans for specific improvements pursuant to the provisions of the official map.
(2) The Board shall have the jurisdiction and authority to perform, and shall perform, all duties assigned to the Zoning Board of Appeals as detailed in § 165.082 of this code.
(3) In connection with the foregoing, the Board shall:
(a) Review and make recommendations for the renewal, development, redevelopment, or conservation of residential, commercial, business or industrial areas of the city, taking into consideration urban esthetics and civil design;
(b) Call upon any officials of the city for aid and advice upon any matter properly within the scope of interest of the Board and give aid to the official of the city and other governmental agencies charged with the direction of projects for improvements included in the official map to further the making of such improvements and to generally promote the objective of the official comprehensive plan; and
(c) Consult with municipal, county, regional and state planning commissions and agencies to the end that coordinated planning for the city will be encouraged.
(4) The Board shall exercise other powers or duties as is now or hereafter may be conferred by an act commonly called the Illinois Municipal Planning Act, 65 ILCS 5/11-12-4 et seq., or any amendment thereto or as conferred by this section or any powers or duties germane to powers hereinabove set forth.
(F) Annual report. The Commission shall submit an annual written report to the City Council no later than June 1 of each year.
(Ord. 2021-024, passed 7-13-2021)