It shall be the duty and right of the Planning Director to enforce the provisions of this chapter in the manner and form and with the powers provided by this chapter and the laws of the state. The Planning Director or his/her designee, subject to the procedures, standards, and limitations of this chapter may, by written order, render interpretations, including use interpretations, of the provisions of this chapter and of any rule or regulation issued pursuant to it.
(A) Plan Commission.
(1) Establishment. There is hereby established an Advisory Plan Commission as authorized by I.C. 36-7-4-200.
(2) Membership. As prescribed by I.C. 36-7-4-200 et seq., membership of the Crawfordsville Advisory Plan Commission is as follows:
(a) One member appointed by the city legislative body from its membership.
(b) One member appointed by the park board from its membership.
(c) One member or designated representative appointed by the City Works Board.
(d) The city civil engineer or a qualified assistant appointed by the City Civil Engineer.
(e) Five citizen members, of whom no more than three may be of the same political party, appointed by the city executive.
(f) Two additional citizen members who must reside in the unincorporated area and are not of the same political party, appointed by the executive of the county.
(3) Terms. As prescribed by I.C. 36-7-4-200 et seq., all citizen members shall serve four- year terms while all required members shall be appointed for one-year terms.
(4) Powers and duties. The powers and duties of the Crawfordsville Advisory Plan Commission shall be in accordance with I.C. 36-7-4-400 et seq.
(B) Board of Zoning Appeals.
(1) Establishment. There is hereby established a single division Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) as authorized by I.C. 36-7-4-900.
(2) Membership. The BZA shall consist of five voting members, as follows;
(a) Three citizen members appointed by the Mayor, one of who must be a member of the Plan Commission while the other two must not be members of the Plan Commission.
(b) One citizen member appointed by the Council, who must not be a member of the Plan Commission.
(c) One citizen member appointed by the Plan Commission, who must be a member of the Plan Commission other than the member appointed under (1) above.
(3) Terms. After the initial terms established by I.C. 36-7-4-900, the terms of the BZA members shall be for four years. There are no term limits for BZA members.
(4) Powers and duties. The duties of the BZA are specifically governed and enumerated by I.C. 36-7-4-900. Generally, the BZA shall consider petitions for appeals, special exceptions and variances.
(C) Technical Advisory Committee.
(1) Establishment. A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), also referred to as the pre- development committee, is hereby established to assist the Plan Commission in the review of development plans for technical conformity. A TAC meeting is required for any new commercial development, major subdivisions, and other large scale residential developments. A TAC meeting may be required for commercial remodels or additions from time to time, in which case the Planning Director shall determine if a TAC meeting is required on a case-by-case basis. Because the TAC is strictly a committee and does not have the authority to take any official action, the Committee shall not be bound to holding public meetings.
(2) Membership. Committee membership shall be at the request of the Planning Director. The Planning Director may request the assistance of members of public and semi-public local and state departments, agencies and organizations, including, but not limited to:
(a) Planning Director, Chairman;
(b) Street Commissioner;
(c) City Engineer;
(d) Wastewater Director;
(e) Police Chief;
(f) Fire Chief;
(g) Other Utility providers as identified by the Plan Commission;
(h) County employees as needed in the two-mile extra-jurisdictional territory;
(i) County sanitarian;
(j) MS4 representative;
(k) Building Inspector; and
(l) Any other person(s) deemed appropriate by the Plan Commission.
(3) Duties.
(a) The Technical Advisory Committee shall limit its attention and recommendation to the design and construction aspects of the proposed development or subdivision with emphasis placed on public improvements, utilities, drainage, parking and other development standards. Projects shall be reviewed for compliance to the Zoning Ordinance and compatibility with the Comprehensive Plan prior to:
1. The establishment of any use of land;
2. The issuance of any improvement location permit/building permit;
3. The erection of any structure; and
4. Any other substantial site improvements.
(b) The Technical Advisory Committee shall provide written recommendations pertaining to technical aspects of the design and construction plans; approval or disapproval of a development or subdivision is clearly the responsibility of the Plan Commission.
(c) The Technical Advisory Committee shall have the authority to request that a docket be continued or tabled by the Plan Commission until the Committee has reviewed revised plans submitted by the petitioner(s).
(D) Plat Committee.
(1) Establishment. The Commission hereby delegates to a Plat Committee, as established by I.C. 36-7-4-701(e), authority to grant secondary approval, unless by the written primary approval, the Commission specifically reserves the right to make secondary approval based on circumstances deemed necessary by the Commission.
(2) Membership. The Plat Committee shall be composed of five members who shall be the City Planning Director, the City Engineer, the manager of the City Storm Water Utility, the President of the Plan Commission and one other member of the Planning Commission. The President of the Plan Commission shall serve as the Chairman of the Plat Committee.
(Ord. 4-2009, passed 3-9-09)