A. Role: The role of the Planning Commission in land use regulation and development approval includes responsibility for reviewing and recommending to City Council a Comprehensive Plan for the physical development of the City, the Official Transportation Plan, the Official Zoning Map and UDO amendments and/or enactments, amendments to the UDO regulations, preliminary plans and final plats, and other administrative development approvals. The Planning Commission also serves as the Centerville Board of Zoning Appeals.
B. Powers and Duties: For the purposes of this UDO, Planning Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
1. The Planning Commission shall have all the powers and duties prescribed by the Ohio Revised Code, the Charter of the City and all other applicable ordinances of the City;
2. Recommendation of Ordinances to Council. The Planning Commission shall have the power to draft a new ordinance or an amendment to an existing ordinance. The Planning Commission shall recommend action to the City Council on a new ordinance or an amendment to an existing ordinance;
3. Consultants. The City Manager, at the request of the Planning Commission, may temporarily retain the services of a consultant in special instances or circumstances to assist the Planning Commission in performing its duties;
4. Rules of Procedure. The Planning Commission shall have the power to adopt rules of procedure as may be necessary to perform its duties;
5. To make decisions on conditional uses, major site plans, variances, preliminary plans and final plats, and other administrative approvals;
6. To decide appeals of administrative decisions;
7. To approve proposed uses that are not listed as substantially similar to a permitted or conditionally permitted use listed in the UDO;
8. To assist with the implementation of the principles, goals, and strategies of the Create the Vision Community Plan;
9. To grant variances to the standards of the UDO; and
10. The Planning Commission shall have all additional powers granted by the City Council.
C. Officers; Meetings; Conflicts of Interest
1. Composition: The Planning Commission shall consist of 7 members who are appointed by City Council.
2. Residency: In considering appointments or reappointments to the Planning Commission, the City Council shall consider only those applicants residing within the City.
3. Terms of Office: The term of office for a member of the Planning Commission shall be 4 years. Members of the Planning Commission appointed by City Council under Ordinance 13-86, hereby repealed, shall automatically be reappointed to fill their unexpired term of office.
4. Compensation: Members of the Planning Commission shall serve without compensation.
5. Vacancies: City Council shall appoint a new member to fill the unexpired term of any Planning Commission member whose place has become vacant.
6. Removal from Office: Removal from office shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the City of Centerville, Ohio.
7. Officers: A Chairperson shall be appointed by City Council from the members of the Planning Commission. The Vice-Chairperson shall be appointed by the Chairperson.
8. Terms of Officers: The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall serve a 1 year term of office.
9. Meetings: The members of the Planning Commission shall hold as many meetings as are necessary to carry out their duties.
10. Quorum: Four (4) members of the Planning Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. (Ord 15-16)
11. Voting: A majority of the quorum shall be required to adopt a motion. A minimum of four (4) votes shall be required to adopt a motion for UDO text and zoning map amendments. (Ord. 15-16)
12. Meeting Minutes: The Planning Commission shall keep a record, which shall be open to the public, of its resolutions, proceedings, substantive arguments and actions.
13. Public Meetings: All meetings of the Planning Commission shall be open to the public. Persons attending a meeting of the Planning Commission shall be given the opportunity to speak for or against any application before the Planning Commission.
14. Conflicts of Interest: No member of the Planning Commission shall vote or participate in the Commission's discussion of any question before the Planning Commission in which he or she has a personal or pecuniary interest. All members of the Planning Commission are subject to the City's Code of Ethics as provided in Chapter 206 of the Administration Code.
D. Work Session: The Planning Commission may hold a work session(s) as needed to review informal proposals, provide information and feedback to an applicant prior to filing of a formal application, and to request additional information for pending applications.
E. Formal Meeting: The Planning Commission shall hold a formal meeting at which complete applications and cases referred to the Planning Commission by the Technical Review Committee (TRC) and/or the City Planner shall be considered. Prior to review and action by Planning Commission, these applications may be reviewed by the TRC, reported on, and presented to the Planning Commission by staff.