A Planning Commission created by existing Ordinance of the City shall consist of:
The Mayor or persons appointed by him to act in his stead as his deputy; one member of Council, to be appointed by the President of Council, for a term not to exceed his term as a Member of Council; and three (3) individuals to be appointed by the Mayor for terms of six (6) years each.
All such members shall serve without compensation, unless otherwise provided by ordinance.
A vacancy occurring during the term of any member of the City Planning Commission shall be filled for the unexpired term in the manner authorized for the original appointment.
The Mayor, with the concurrence of two-thirds of the full membership of the Council shall have the right to remove an appointed member for cause.
It shall be the function and duty of the Planning Commission to act as the platting commissioners of the City, and as such it shall have control of planning and shall provide regulations with respect to the platting of all lands within the City so as to secure their harmonious development; to provide for the co-ordination of a street with other streets and with the official City Plan: to provide for open spaces for traffic, utilities, access of fire fighting apparatus, recreation, light and air, and for the avoidance of congestion of the population.
It shall make such regulations as it deems necessary as to the manner in which streets and other public ways shall be graded and improved; the manner in which and the extent to which water, sewer and other utility mains, piping or other facilities shall be installed; or establish any other conditions precedent to the approval of a proposed plant.
The Commission shall make plans and maps of the whole or any portion of the City and 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, addition to, and estimates of such plans or maps when it deems it to be advisable. 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 general laws of the State of Ohio. All plans, recommendations and regulations made by the Planning Commission shall be submitted to the Council for approval before the same shall be considered official.
A sufficient sum shall be appropriated by the Council each year to carry out the planning provisions of this Charter.
No public building, street, boulevard, parkway, park, playground, airport, landing strip, bridge, tunnel, or publicly or privately owned utility or part thereof shall be constructed or authorized to be constructed in the City; nor shall any street, avenue, parkway, boulevard or alley be open for any purpose whatsoever; nor shall any 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 it 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 the Planning Commission within forty-five (45) days from the date of referral unless a longer time be allowed by the Planning and Zoning Code or by Council. Additionally, the Planning Commission shall be required to perform such other duties and functions as may be imposed upon the Planning Commission by this Charter, the Planning and Zoning Code, the Codified Ordinances of the City of St. Clairsville and/or the ordinances/resolutions of the Council for the City of St. Clairsville. If the Planning Commission shall fail to act within the time allotted, it shall be deemed to have approved such matters. Any proposition of any proposed ordinance, resolution or order disapproved by the Planning Commission shall require an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of full membership of the Council for adoption or authorization.
(Amended 11-7-00; 11-7-06)