Subd. 1. Generally. The Planning Commission shall have the powers and duties given to city planning agencies generally by law, including the authority to conduct public hearings as directed by City Council or city policy. The Planning Commission also shall exercise the duties conferred upon it by this chapter.
Subd. 2. Comprehensive Plan. It shall be the purpose of the Planning Commission to prepare and adopt a comprehensive plan for the physical development of the city, including proposed public buildings, street arrangements and improvements, efficient design of major thoroughfares for moving of traffic, parking facilities, public utilities services, parks and playgrounds, a general land use plan and other matters relating to the physical development of the city. This plan may be prepared in sections, each of which shall relate to a comprehensive plan program. After the City Council has adopted the Comprehensive Plan, the Planning Commission may periodically, but at least every five years, review the Comprehensive Plan and any ordinances or programs implementing the plan.
Subd. 3. Means of executing plan. Upon the adoption of a comprehensive plan or any section thereof, it shall be the concern of the Planning Commission to recommend to the City Council reasonable and practical means for putting into effect the plan or section thereof, in order that it will serve as a pattern and guide for the orderly physical development of the city. Means of effectuating the plan, among other things, shall consist of a zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, capital improvement programming and technical review, and recommendations of matters referred to the Planning Commission by the City Council.
Subd. 4. Zoning ordinance. Pursuant to M.S. § 462.357, Subd. 3, as it may be amended from time to time, after adoption of a comprehensive plan, the Planning Commission shall review all proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance, conduct public hearings as directed by City Council or city policy, and make recommendations to the City Council concerning zoning ordinance amendments and their relation to the Comprehensive Plan and other land use controls. The Planning Commission shall report its recommendations to the City Council for action.
Subd. 5. Conditional use permits. The Planning Commission shall make recommendations on all requests for a conditional use permit under the terms of the zoning ordinance, and conduct public hearings as directed by City Council or city policy. The Planning Commission shall report its recommendations to the City Council for action.
Subd. 6. Interim use permits. The Planning Commission shall make recommendations on all requests for an interim use permit under the terms of the zoning ordinance, and conduct public hearings as directed by City Council or city policy. The Planning Commission shall report its recommendations to the City Council for action.
Subd. 7. Subdivision regulations. The Planning Commission shall make recommendations about the subdividing of land as prescribed by the ordinance and conduct public hearings as directed by City Council or city policy. The Planning Commission shall report its recommendations to the City Council for action.
Subd. 8. Zoning variances. All applications for variances shall be referred to the Planning Commission, and forwarded with or without recommendations directly to the City Council. The City Council shall have the powers of a board of appeals and adjustments, as provided for in M.S. § 462.357, Subd. 6, as it may be amended from time to time, for its decision.
Subd. 9. Appeals to interpretation of zoning code provisions or denials of zoning or building permits based on the zoning code. In cases where it is alleged that there is an error in any order, requirement, decision or determination by an administrative officer in the enforcement of the zoning code, appeals shall be referred to the Planning Commission, and forwarded with its recommendations directly to the City Council. The City Council shall have the powers of a Board of Appeals and Adjustments, as provided for in M.S. § 462.359, Subd. 4, as it may be amended from time to time, for its decision.
Subd. 10. Capital improvements. Pursuant to M.S. § 462.356, Subd. 2, as it may be amended from time to time, after adoption of a comprehensive plan, the Planning Commission shall review all proposed capital improvements within the city by the municipality, or any special district or any agency thereof, or any other political subdivision having jurisdiction within the municipality, and make findings as to the compliance of the proposed capital improvement with the Comprehensive Plan. The City Council may, by resolution adopted by two-thirds vote, dispense with the requirements of this section when in its judgment it finds that the proposed capital improvement has no relationship to the Comprehensive Plan.
Subd. 11. Purchase and sale of real property. Pursuant to M.S. 462.356, Subd. 2, as it may be amended from time to time, after adoption of a comprehensive plan, the Planning Commission shall review all proposed acquisitions or disposals of publically owned interests in real property within the city by the municipality, or any special district or any agency thereof, or any other political subdivision having jurisdiction within the municipality, and make findings as to the compliance of the proposed acquisition or disposal of real property with the Comprehensive Plan. The City Council may, by resolution adopted by two-thirds vote, dispense with the requirements of this section when in its judgment it finds that the proposed acquisition or disposal of real property has no relationship to the Comprehensive Plan.
Subd. 12. Comprehensive Plan amendments. Pursuant to M.S.§ 462.355, Subds. 2, 3, as they may be amended from time to time, after adoption of a comprehensive plan, the Planning Commission shall review all proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, hold at least one public hearing, and make recommendations to the City Council relative to the amendments and their relation to the Comprehensive Plan and other land use controls. The Planning Commission shall report its recommendations to the City Council for action.
(1987 Code, § 201.04) (Am. Ord. 466, passed 4-26-2010)