In the discharge of its responsibilities, the Commission of the City of Goose Creek (hereinafter referred to as the “city”) has the following functions, powers and duties:
(A) Identify community needs and advise the Council of its short and long range implications for the total development of the city;
(B) Recommend achievable community goals as a basis for long range planning and development programs;
(C) Prepare and revise periodically plans, programs and policies that will aid the entire community in achieving its defined goals for the physical, social and economic growth, development and redevelopment of the city;
(D) The plans and programs must be designed to promote public health, safety, morals, convenience, prosperity or the general welfare, as well as, the efficiency and economy of the city;
(E) Specific planning elements must be based upon careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of existing conditions and probable future development. and include recommended means of implementation;
(F) The Commission, through its designated staff, may make, publish and distribute maps, plans, reports and recommendations relating to the plans and programs and the development of the city to public officials and agencies, public utility companies, civic, educational, professional and other organizations and citizens;
(G) The Commission and its designated staff, in the performance of its functions, may enter upon any land with consent of the property owner or after ten days' written notification to the owner of record, make examinations and surveys, and place and maintain necessary monuments and marks on them; provided, however, that the Commission shall be liable for any injury or damage to property resulting therefrom;
(H) The Commission may serve as an Appeals Board on land development plans that have been disapproved by the Commission's designated staff;
(I) The Commission shall authorize the naming or renaming of a street or road laid out within the city;
(J) All public officials shall, upon request, furnish to the Commission, within a reasonable time, the available information as it may require for its work;
(K) In general, the Commission has the powers as may be necessary to enable it to perform its functions and promote the planning of the city;
(L) Prepare and recommend for adoption to Council as a means for implementing the plans and programs in the city:
(1) A zoning ordinance to include zoning district maps and appropriate revisions thereof;
(2) Regulations for the subdivision or development of land and appropriate revisions thereof, and to oversee the administration of the regulations that may be adopted;
(3) An official map and appropriate revision on it showing the exact location of existing or proposed public street, highway and utility rights-of-way, and public building sites, together with regulations to control the erection of buildings or other structure or changes in land use within the rights-of-way, building sites or open spaces within the city;
(4) A landscape ordinance setting forth required planting, tree preservation and other aesthetic considerations for land and structures; and
(5) Policies or procedures to facilitate implementation of planning elements as set forth in S.C. Code § 6-29-510, as amended.
(M) Interpret the adopted plans and programs to concerned citizens so that private activities and desires may be accomplished in harmony with public needs and policies; and
(N) Submit an annual report to Council every year, summarizing its activities and achievements. The report shall include the identity of Commissioners and their respective meeting attendance record.
(1985 Code, Art. I, § 102) (Ord. 99-005, passed 4-13-1999)