The Planning Commission shall cause to be made written findings of fact regarding a proposed amendment and shall submit same together with its recommendations to Council. The Planning Commission report to Council shall indicate the vote of each member present and voting on every recommendation. Any member of the Planning Commission that dissents from the majority regarding a recommendation may make his or her dissention known, in writing, to be submitted to the Council as part of the record. Where the purpose and effect of the proposed amendment is to change the zoning classification of particular property, the Planning Commission shall make findings based on the evidence presented to it in each specific case with respect to the following matters:
(a) The zoning classification of property within the general area of the property in question;
(b) Existing uses of property within the general area of the property in question;
(c) The suitability of the property in question to the uses permitted under the existing zoning classification;
(d) The trend of development, if any, in the general area of the property in question, including changes, if any, which have taken place in its present zoning classification; and
(e) Changed or changing conditions in the applicable area, or in the City generally, that make the proposed zoning or amendment thereto reasonably necessary to the promotion of the public health, safety, or general welfare.
The Planning Commission shall not recommend the adoption of a proposed amendment unless it finds that the adoption of such amendment is in the public interest and is not solely for the interest of the petitioner or applicant, except that no finding is required that “the amendment is not solely for the interest of the petitioner or applicant” when an application is initiated by the City Administration, by the Planning Commission, or by the Council. When the petition for an amendment to the Zone Map is made by a property owner or agent of a property owner, the Planning Commission may recommend the adoption of an amendment changing the zoning classification of the property in question to any higher classification than that requested by the petitioner. For the purpose of this paragraph, the "R-1" Suburban Residential District shall be considered the highest classification and the "I-2" Open Industrial District shall be considered the lowest classification. When the petitioner is other than the property owner or an agent of a property owner, then the Planning Commission may recommend any different zone classification, higher or lower, than that requested by the petitioner.
(Ord. 074-10. Passed 12-20-10.)