(a) Organization. The City Planning Commission shall consist of seven (7) members, to-wit: the Mayor, who shall also be the Chairman of the Commission, a member of City Council, who shall be appointed by the President of Council, and five (5) members appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of a majority of the members of Council. At the time of any appointment, not more than three (3) of the appointed Commissioners shall be members of the same political party. The Building Commissioner, Service Director and City Engineer shall furnish technical advice and services as required by the Planning Commission.
The term of the members appointed by the Mayor shall be five (5) years each. The members of the present Planning Commission shall continue to serve until their respective terms of office have expired.
(b) Powers and Duties. It shall be the function and duty of the Planning Commission to act as the platting commissioners of the City, and as such it shall have control of planning and shall provide regulations with respect to the platting of all lands within the City so as to secure their harmonious development; provide for the coordination of streets with other streets and with the official master plan; and provide for open spaces for traffic, utilities, access of fire-fighting apparatus, recreation, light and air, and for the avoidance of congestion of population.
It shall make such regulations as it deems necessary as to the manner in which streets and other public ways shall be graded and improved and the manner in which and the extent to which water, sewers and other utility mains, piping or other facilities shall be installed, and in addition may establish any other conditions precedent to the approval of a proposed plat. The Departments of Public Safety and Public Service shall furnish to the Commission the necessary technical advice and services.
The Commission shall make plans and maps of the whole or any portion of the City and of any land outside the City which in the opinion of the Commission, bears a relation to the planning of the City, and make changes in, additions to, and estimates of such plans or maps when it deems the same advisable. A comprehensive general plan to be known as the master plan shall be prepared. This master plan shall provide for the overall development of the entire City. It shall be reviewed periodically and revised as necessary, giving due consideration to those areas requiring redevelopment or urban renewal. Consistent with the master plan it may prepare a mapped streets plan together with necessary maps or plats showing the surveyed lines of all proposed improvements.
The Commission shall have such powers as may be conferred upon it by ordinance of the Council concerning the plan, design, location, removal, relocation, and alteration of any public building or structure or those located on public streets or property, the location, relocation, widening, extension and vacation of streets, parkways, playgrounds, and other public places, the zoning and rezoning of the City for any lawful purpose, and such other powers as may now or hereafter be conferred upon it by ordinance of the Council or by the general laws of the State of Ohio to the extent not inconsistent with this Charter or such ordinances.
All plans, recommendations and regulations made by the Planning Commission referring to public property, shall be submitted to the Council for approval before the same shall become effective. Prior to approval, copies of said plans shall have been reviewed by the Building Department and the Fire Department with comments, and/or approval, and/or disapproval noted.
All private commercial and industrial buildings, structures, and including land improvements, to be constructed within the City, must have submitted to the City three (3) complete sets of plans and specifications, for either new or renovation construction, at least forty-five (45) days prior to proposed construction, (1-Fire Department, 1-City Building Department, and 1-Planning Commission). The Planning Commission must review said plans within that allotted period of time and make recommendations for changes as required by the Building Codes of the City and State of Ohio. This requirement is deemed necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety and welfare of the residents of the City.
(Amended November 8, 1983)
(c) Mandatory Referral. No public building or structure, street, boulevard, parkway, park, playground, public ground, bridge, viaduct, tunnel, or other public way, ground works or utility, whether publicly or privately owned, or a part thereof shall be constructed or authorized to be constructed in the City nor shall any public street, avenue, parkway, boulevard or alley be opened for any purpose whatsoever, nor shall any street, avenue, parkway, boulevard or alley be widened, narrowed, relocated, vacated, or its use changed, or any ordinance referring to zoning or other regulations controlling the use or development of land be passed, unless and until the matter shall have been submitted to the Planning Commission for report and recommendation. Any matter so referred to the Planning Commission shall be acted upon by it within forty-five (45) days from the date of referral unless a longer time be allowed by Council. If the Planning Commission shall fail to act within the time allotted, it shall be deemed to have approved the matter. If any provision of such ordinance, resolution or order is disapproved by formal action of the Planning Commission, the adoption of such ordinance, resolution or order shall require a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of all members of the Council for passage.