In order that adequate provisions be made for the preparation of a comprehensive City plan and for the guidance, direction and control of the growth and development or redevelopment of the City and contiguous territory not more than one and one-half miles beyond the corporation limits of the City, and not included in any municipality, a plan commission is created.
(1) COMPOSITION; APPOINTMENT AND QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS; MAYOR TO BE EX OFFICIO MEMBER. The plan commission shall consist of eleven members, citizens of the City, appointed by the mayor on the basis of their particular fitness for their duty on the plan commission, and subject to the approval of the City Council.
(2) TERMS AND COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS
. The term of office of members of the plan commission shall be six years. All members of the plan commission shall serve without compensation.
(3) ORGANIZATION. Immediately following their appointment, the members of the plan commission shall meet, organize, elect such officers as it may deem necessary, and adopt and later alter rules and regulations of organization and procedure consistent with state law, the provisions of this Code and other City ordinances.
(4) RECORDS. The plan commission shall keep written records of its proceedings, which shall be open at all times to public inspection.
(5) POWERS AND DUTIES. The plan commission shall have the following powers and duties:
a. To prepare and recommend to the City Council, a comprehensive plan for the present and future development or redevelopment of the City and contiguous unincorporated territory not more than one and one-half (1½) miles beyond the corporate limits of the City and not included in any other municipality. The plan may be adopted in whole or in separate geographical or functional parts, each of which, when adopted shall be the official comprehensive plan, or part thereof, of the City. Such plan shall be advisory, except as to such part thereof as has been implemented by ordinances duly adopted by the City Council. All requirements for public hearing, filing of notice of adoption with the county recorder of deeds, and filing of the comprehensive plan and ordinances with the City clerk shall be complied with as provided by law.
b. To provide for the health, safety, comfort and convenience of the inhabitants of the City and its contiguous territory, such plan or plans shall establish reasonable standards of design for subdivisions and for resubdivisions of unimproved land and of areas subject to redevelopment in respect to public improvements as defined in this division, and shall establish reasonable requirements in respect to public improvements as defined in this division, and shall establish reasonable requirements governing the location, width, course, and surfacing of streets and highways, storm water drainage, water supply and distribution, sanitary sewers and sewage collection and treatment. The requirement specified in this subsection shall become regulatory only when adopted by ordinance.
c. To designate land suitable for annexation to the City and the recommended zoning classification for the land upon annexation.
d. To recommend to the City Council, from time to time, such changes in the official comprehensive plan or any part thereof as may be deemed necessary, including any specific improvements thereto.
e. To give aid to the officials of the City charged with the direction of projects for improvements embraced within the official comprehensive plan or parts thereof, to further the making of such improvements, and generally to promote the realization of the official comprehensive plan.
f. To arrange and conduct any form of publicity relative to its activities for the general purpose of public understanding, within budgeted amount therefore.
g. To cooperate with municipal or regional planning commissions and other groups or agencies to further the local planning program and to assure harmonious and integrated planning for the area.
h. To exercise such other powers germane to the powers granted under authority of the “Illinois Municipal Code,” 65 ILCS 5-1-1-1, et al, and as amended, as may be conferred by the City Council.
i. Initiate, hear and recommend to the City Council all requests for adoption or amendments to the text of the Code and the Official Zoning Map;
j. Hear and recommend to the City Council all requests for:
1. Rezoning to planned unit development;
2. Planned unit development outline development plans and amendments; and
3. Planned unit development preliminary development plans and amendments.
k. Hear and decide all requests for:
1. Special use permits;
2. Planned unit development final plans and amendments;
3. Variances of certain provisions of this Code as provided for in this Code;
4. Preliminary subdivision plats that do not require a Comprehensive Plan amendment or involve a requested waiver or modification of applicable regulations or standards; and
5. Minor subdivisions in specific cases where the zoning administrator defers decision making authority to the plan commission.