a. Organization
There shall be a City Planning Commission composed of five (5) voting members not holding any other incompatible public or private office to serve for a term of three (3) years, and the following non-voting members.
1. A member of Council appointed by the Council;
2. The City Manager, or his/her designees; and
3. The Community and Economic Development Director.
b. Powers and Duties
The Planning Commission shall conduct studies and surveys, and prepare plans, reports, and maps relative to the overall planning of the growth, development, redevelopment, rehabilitation and renewal of the City; and make such recommendations relative thereto to the Council as it feels are in the best interest of the City.
Other powers and duties of the Planning Commission shall include those established by this Charter and by the Council by ordinance, but until such ordinances shall be passed, it shall possess such other powers and duties as are provided by the general laws of Ohio to the extent that such general laws do not conflict with the provisions of this Charter.
c. Public Notice
1. Before any approval on matters of rezoning can be given by the Planning Commission or matters involving the Commission’s variance powers:
A. A public hearing shall be held; and
B. Public notice including the time and place of the hearing, shall be given at least thirty (30) days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the City, and posted on the City’s Official Website.
2. If the ordinance, measure, or regulation intends to rezone or redistrict ten (10) or less parcels of land as listed on the tax duplicate, written notice, at least twenty (20) days before the public hearing, by First Class U.S. Mail with a Certificate of Mailing, shall be given to property owners within 500 feet from such parcel or parcels. The calculation of the 500 feet shall not include the width of any public right of way such as, but not limited to, any avenue, street, roadway, highway or interstate.
3. Notices by mail shall be delivered to the addresses of such property owners appearing on the county auditor’s current tax list, or the county treasurer’s mailing list, and to such other list or lists that may be specified by the Council.
4. At least thirty (30) days prior to the hearing, the text or copy text of such ordinance, measure, or regulation, together with the maps or plans, or copies thereof, forming part of or referred to in such ordinance, measure, or regulation and the maps, plans, and reports submitted by the Planning Commission shall be on file for public examination in the office of the Clerk of Council or in such other office as designated by Council.
5. No ordinance, measure, or regulation which violates, differs from, or departs from the plan or report submitted by the Commission shall take effect unless passed or approved by at least five (5) members of Council.
6. No ordinance, measure, or regulation which is in accordance with the recommendations, plan, or report submitted by the Commission, shall be deemed to pass or take effect without the concurrence of at least a majority of all members of Council.
d. Referral
All ordinances or resolutions of Council, or acts or orders of any administrative official which affect the development of the plan of the Planning Commission shall be submitted to the Planning Commission for report and recommendation. Any matter so referred to the Planning Commission shall be acted upon by it within sixty (60) days from the date of referral unless a different period of time be provided by Council. If the Planning Commission shall fail to act within the time allotted, it shall be deemed to have approved such matter. Any resolution, ordinance or order disapproved by formal action of the Planning Commission shall require the approval of at least five (5) of the members of Council for adoption or authorization.
(Amended 11-8-05; 11-2-10; 11-3-15)