(A) Administrative Officer. The Hancock County Planning Director (including any designee(s) of the Planning Director), will have the principal responsibility for the administration and enforcement of this chapter within the Plan Commission's planning jurisdiction. The duties of the Planning Director, or his/her designee shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) Improvement location permits. Reviewing, approving, or disapproving all improvement location permits and keeping permanent records of applications made and actions taken;
(2) Inspections. Conducting inspections of structures and properties to determine compliance with the requirements of this chapter and all approvals granted by the Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Plat Committee, or other body in the execution of its duties as established by this chapter and the Indiana Code;
(3) Record keeping. Maintaining permanent and current records documenting the application of this chapter including, but not limited to, all maps, amendments, special exceptions, variances, and appeals;
(4) Plan Commission applications. Receiving, processing, docketing, and referring to the Plan Commission all appropriate applications;
(5) Board of Zoning Appeals applications. Receiving, processing, docketing, and referring to the Board of Zoning Appeals all appeals, variances, special exceptions, and other matters upon which it is authorized to act under this chapter and the Indiana Code;
(6) Plat Committee applications. Receiving, processing, docketing, and referring to the Plat Committee all appropriate applications;
(7) Technical Review Committee. Receiving, processing, docketing, and referring to the Technical Review Committee all appropriate applications;
(8) Clerical and technical assistance. Providing all such clerical and technical assistance as may be required by the Board of Zoning Appeals, Plan Commission, Technical Review Committee, legislative bodies, or other body in the execution of its duties as established by this chapter and the Indiana Code.
(B) Fee schedule. The Planning Director shall maintain a schedule of fees, as approved by the County Commissioners, for all applications, permits, and other processes outlined in this chapter.
(1) Fee basis. All fees shall be intended to reimburse the Plan Commission for the time and cost of processing the required materials. In no instance shall a fee be used as a means of discouraging or encouraging any particular types of applications.
(2) Public access. The fee schedule shall be made available to the public by the Planning Director.
(3) Establishment and revisions. The fee schedule shall be prepared by the Planning Director, reviewed by the Plan Commission, and approved by ordinance by the Board of County Commissioners.
(a) The fee schedule may be amended by a recommendation submitted to the Board of County Commissioners by the Plan Commission followed by the Commissioners' approval of a revised fee schedule ordinance.
(b) The Planning Director shall review the fee schedule annually and bring any necessary revisions to the attention of the Plan Commission and Board of County Commissioners.
(4) Payment required. Until all applicable fees have been paid in full, no action shall be taken on any application or petition.
(5) Fines for failing to obtain a permit. The Planning Director may require any person who initiates construction of a structure or the alteration of land prior to obtaining any required permit to pay up to two times the amount of the normal permit fee listed on the fee schedule as a penalty in addition to any enforcement cost including incurred attorney's fees for such activity (and in addition to the established fee).
(C) Schedule of meeting and filing dates. The Planning Director shall maintain an annual calendar of meeting and filing dates for the Technical Review Committee, Plat Committee, Plan Commission, and Board of Zoning Appeals. The existence of this calendar shall not be interpreted as prohibiting special meetings of the Committees, Commission, or Board.
(1) Coordination of calendars. The calendars of the Technical Review Committee, Plat Committee and Plan Commission shall be coordinated to ensure the efficient processing of applications.
(2) Conformance with the Indiana Code. All meeting and filing dates shall be based on the requirements of this chapter and the laws of the State of Indiana.
(3) Approval of dates. The calendar of meeting and filing dates shall be prepared by the Planning Director and approved by the Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals (the Plan Commission shall be responsible for approving a coordinated calendar for the Technical Review Committee and the Plat Committee). The calendar of meeting and filing dates shall be reviewed and updated annually by the Planning Director.
(Ord. 2007-1B, passed 2-5-07)