(a) Reports and Recommendations. In all actions for amendments to the Planning Code or General Plan or conditional uses, the Zoning Administrator or the Planning Department shall make necessary investigations and studies and submit the findings to the Director of Planning prior to the hearing of the Planning Commission, or in actions on conditional use applications in NC Districts, prior to the consent calendar or public hearing of the Commission. The report and recommendation of the Director of Planning shall be submitted at least one week prior to the hearing.
(b) Record. A record shall be kept of the pertinent information presented at the hearing on any action for an amendment, conditional use or variance, and such record shall be maintained as a part of the permanent public records of the Planning Department. A verbatim record may be made if permitted or ordered by the Planning Commission in the case of actions for amendments or conditional uses, and by the Zoning Administrator in the case of variance actions.
(c) Continuations. The Planning Commission in the case of actions for amendments or conditional uses, and the Zoning Administrator in the case of variance actions, shall determine the instances in which cases scheduled for hearing may be continued or taken under advisement. In such cases, new notice need not be given of the further hearing date, provided such date is announced at the scheduled hearing.
(1) In the case of variances, the decision of the Zoning Administrator shall, unless deferred upon the request or consent of the applicant, be rendered within 60 days from the date of conclusion of the hearing or, where no hearing is involved, within 60 days from the date of filing; failure of the Zoning Administrator to act within the prescribed time shall entitle the applicant to cause the matter to be placed before the Planning Commission for decision at its next following regular meeting.
(2) In the case of actions for amendments to the Planning Code or conditional uses, the decision of the Planning Commission shall be rendered within 90 days from the date of conclusion of the hearing; failure of the Commission to act within the prescribed time shall be deemed to constitute disapproval.
(3) In the case of proposed amendments to the Planning Code initiated by the Board of Supervisors under Section 302(b), or modifications to proposed amendments made by the Board under Section 302(d) of this Code, the decision of the Planning Commission shall be rendered within 90 days from the date of referral of the proposed amendment or modification by the Board to the Commission. Failure of the Commission to act within the prescribed time shall be deemed to constitute disapproval, except that the Board may, by resolution, extend the prescribed time within which the Commission is to render its decision.
(Amended by Ord. 237-81, App. 5/8/81; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 321-96, App. 8/8/96)