(a) Organization. The Planning Commission shall consist of five (5) voting members. One (1) voting member shall be the Mayor or a representative appointed by him for a period not exceeding one (1) year and four (4) voting members shall be appointed by the Mayor to respective terms of four (4) years each.
(b) Powers and Duties. The Planning Commission shall be responsible for the long range planning of the City so as to insure its orderly and harmonious development. The Commission shall act as the platting commissioners of the City, and as such shall provide regulations with respect to the platting of lands within the City so as to secure their harmonious development, provide for the coordination of streets and other public ways with the comprehensive plan and provide for open spaces for traffic, access for fire fighting apparatus, recreation, light and air, and for the avoidance of congestion of population. It shall make such regulations as it deems necessary as to the manner in which streets and other ways shall be graded and improved and the manner in which and the extent to which water, sewer and other utility mains, piping or other facilities shall be installed, and in addition may establish any other condition precedent to the approval of a proposed plat.
The Commission shall make plans and maps of the whole or any portion of the City and of any land outside the City which, in the opinion of the Commission, bears a relation to the planning of the City, and make changes in, additions to, and estimates of such plans or maps when it deems the same advisable. A comprehensive general plan to be known as the master plan shall be prepared by the Mayor or his designee. It shall provide for the overall development of the entire City. This master plan shall be reviewed in May of the tenth year following the previous review, and revised as necessary giving due consideration to those areas requiring redevelopment or urban renewals. Consistent with the master plan it may prepare a mapped streets plan together with necessary maps or plats showing the surveyed lines of all proposed improvements. It shall have such powers as may be conferred upon it by ordinance of the Council concerning the plan, design, location, removal, relocation and alteration of any public building or structure or those located on public streets or property, the location, relocation, widening, extension and vacation of streets, parkways, playgrounds and other public places, the zoning and rezoning of the City for any lawful purpose, and such other powers as may now or hereafter be conferred upon it by ordinance of the Council or by the general laws of the State of Ohio to the extent not inconsistent with this Charter or such ordinances.
The Commission shall review the comprehensive plan, as prepared by the Mayor or his designee as set forth above, and all revisions made each ten (10) years thereafter, and shall refer to Council with its recommendations any revisions or amendments thereto. No comprehensive plan or portions thereof or amendments thereto, shall be adopted by Council until after a public hearing thereon. The comprehensive plan shall serve as a guide to all future actions of the City concerning land use, development regulations, and official maps. A sufficient sum shall be appropriated by the Council each year to carry out the planning provisions of this Charter. At least every five (5) years the Commission shall review the Development Code and zoning ordinances, texts, maps and recommend such revisions and amendments as in its judgment are desirable.
(Ord. 49-14. Passed 7-28-14.)
(Ord. 49-14. Passed 7-28-14.)
The Commission shall recommend to the appropriate public authorities and private agencies such programs it deems desirable for the development and improvement of the City. It shall refer to Council with its recommendations any application for a building permit which involves infringement upon the mapped streets plan. Subject to the approval of Council and the availability of funds therefor, the Commission may recommend entering into agreements with the appropriate governmental or private agencies and the employment of consultants necessary or desirable for carrying forward any of its powers and duties. It may recommend appointment of advisory subcommittees composed of private citizens for a limited tenure to work with the Commission for the support and promotion of public projects or civic objectives. All plans, recommendations and regulations made by the Commission pursuant to this division (b) shall be submitted to Council for adoption before the same shall become effective for any purpose. The Commission shall have such other duties and powers as may from time to time be conferred upon it by ordinance of Council or by the general laws of the State of Ohio to the extent not inconsistent with this Charter or such ordinances.
(c) Mandatory Referral. No public building or structure, street, boulevard, parkway, park, playground, public ground, river front, harbor, dock, wharf, bridge, viaduct, tunnel or other public way, ground, works or utility whether publicly or privately owned or a part thereof, shall be constructed or authorized to be constructed in the City nor shall any public street, avenue, parkway, boulevard or alley be widened, narrowed, relocated, vacated, or its use changed, or any ordinance referring to zoning or other regulations controlling the use or development of land be passed, unless and until the matter shall have been submitted to the Planning Commission for report and recommendation. Any matter so referred to the Planning Commission shall be acted upon by it within sixty (60) days from the date of referral unless a longer time be allowed by Council. If the Planning Commission shall fail to act within the time allotted, it shall be deemed to have approved such matter. If any provision of such ordinance, resolution or order is disapproved by formal action of the Planning Commission, the adoption of such ordinance, resolution or order shall require a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of all members of the Council.
(Amended 11-5-02.)