The Planning and Zoning Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(A) To prepare and recommend to the City Council for adoption, a comprehensive plan for the present and future development or redevelopment of the city and land contiguous to the city and within one and one-half miles of its corporate limits. The plan may establish reasonable standards of design for subdivisions and for resubdivisions of unimproved land and of areas subject to redevelopment with respect to public improvements; may establish reasonable requirements governing the location, width, course, and surfacing of public streets and highways, alleys, ways for public service facilities, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, street lights, parks, playgrounds, school grounds, size of lots to be used for residential purposes, storm water drainage, water supply and distribution, sanitary sewers and sewage collection and treatment; and may designate land suitable for annexation to the city and the recommended zoning classification upon annexation.
(B) To recommend changes from time to time in the official comprehensive plan.
(C) To prepare and recommend to the City Council, from time to time, plans for specific improvements in pursuance of the official comprehensive plan.
(D) To give aid to city officials charged with the direction of projects for improvements embraced within the official comprehensive plan, to further the making of these projects, and generally, to promote the realization of the official comprehensive plan.
(E) To examine all subdivision plats referred to it by the City Council, and to approve or disapprove such plats in the manner described by this subchapter.
(F) To review site plans and make recommendations to the City Council for all development in zoning districts, other than single family residential, that by ordinance are to be reviewed by the city.
(G) To hear and decide appeals from and review any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the Director of Community and Economic Development or a Building Inspector charged with the enforcement of the zoning ordinance of the city, subject to the procedures for hearing established therein, and provided that a concurring vote of not less than four members of the Planning and Zoning Commission shall be required to reverse any such administrative decision.
(H) To hear applications for special uses or variations from the requirements of the Zoning Code, subject to the standards set forth therein, and to make recommendations to the City Council concerning such applications.
(I) To consider proposed amendments to the Zoning Code, pursuant to the procedures established therein, and to make recommendations to the City Council concerning such proposed amendments.
(J) To consider applications for planned unit developments, pursuant to the standards and procedures of the zoning code with respect thereto, and to make recommendations to the City Council concerning such developments.
(K) To carry out any and all other duties and responsibilities assigned to it pursuant to the city's zoning and land development ordinances, state law governing the functions of a Plan Commission or Zoning Board of Appeals, and any other ordinances of the city.
(L) To carry out any other duties or responsibilities which may, from time to time, be referred or assigned to it by the City Council.
(M) To hear applications for the amendment or change of the zoning district boundaries or classification of property, as provided in these regulations, in the manner and subject to the standards set forth in these regulations, and to make recommendations to the City Council with respect to the granting or denying of such requests.
(N) To identify historically and architecturally significant properties, structures and areas.
(O) To investigate and recommend to the City Council the adoption of ordinances designating properties or structures having special historic, community, or architectural value as Landmarks.
(P) To investigate and recommend to the City Council the adoption of ordinances designating properties or structures having special historic, community or architectural value as Historic Districts.
(Q) To keep a register of all properties and structures that have been designated as Landmarks or Historic Districts, including all information required for each designation.
(R) To determine an appropriate system of markers and make recommendations for the design and implementation of specific markings of the streets and routes leading from one landmark or historic district to another.
(S) To advise owners of landmarks and property or structures within historic districts on physical and financial aspects of preservation, renovation, rehabilitation, and reuse, and on procedures for inclusion on the State or National Register of Historic Places.
(T) To inform and educate the citizens of the city concerning the historic and architectural heritage of the city by publishing appropriate maps, newsletters, brochures, and pamphlets, and by holding programs and seminars.
(U) To hold public hearings and to review applications for construction, alteration, removal, or demolition affecting proposed or designated landmarks or property and structures within historic districts and issue or deny certificates of appropriateness for such actions. Applicants shall be required to submit plans, drawings, elevations, specifications, and other information as may be necessary to make decisions.
(V) To develop specific guidelines for the alteration, demolition, construction, or removal of Landmarks or property and structures within historic districts.
(W) To review proposed zoning amendments, applications for special use permits or variances that affect proposed or designated landmarks and historic districts.
(X) To periodically review the city's historic preservation ordinance and to recommend to the City Council any amendments appropriate for the protection and continued use of landmarks or property and structures within historic districts.
(Ord. 97-05, passed 7-8-97; Am. Ord. 97-17, passed 7-22-97; Am. Ord. 02-24, passed 8-13-02; Am. Ord. 06-39, passed 1-23-07; Am. Ord. 13-22, passed 4-23-13; Am. Ord. 22-24, passed 8-23-22)