The Planning and Zoning Commission shall have the power and duty to advise the Council concerning the preparation of plans and maps for the future physical development and harmonious improvement of such Municipality; the plan, design, location, removal, relocation and alteration of any public building or structure and public property: the location, widening, extension area and other public places; the approval of plats for the subdivision of lands; the regulation and restriction of the location of buildings and other structures and of premises to be used for trade, industry, residence, or other specified uses; the regulation and limitation of heights of buildings or other location of buildings or other structures to be erected or altered; including the percentage of lot occupancy, setback building lines, and the area of yards, courts and other open spaces; and such other powers and duties as may be imposed upon it by resolution or ordinance of Council.
The Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission or a member designated by the Chairman, shall attend meetings of Council for the purpose of informing the Council on matters before the Planning and Zoning Commission and explaining the recommendations of the Planning and Zoning Commission on matters before the Council.
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall have the power to hear and decide appeals for exceptions to, and variances in, the application of resolutions, ordinances, regulations, measures and orders of administrative officials or agencies governing zoning and building in the municipality, as may be required to afford justice and avoid unreasonable hardship, except if such appeal concerns an exception to, or variance in application of such resolution, ordinances, regulations and measures and orders of administrative requirements. The Planning and Zoning Commission authority shall be exercised subject to reasonable standards as shall be prescribed by Council and such other powers as may be granted by Council. The subject of appeal shall be suspended until action is taken or decision rendered by such Planning and Zoning Commission.
A written appeal shall be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission within twenty (20) days after refusal or granting of the issuance of a zoning or building permit.
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall hold a public hearing on each appeal and shall give ten (10) days public notice of the time and place of said hearing. Said notice shall be given by one (1) publication in a newspaper of general circulation of said Village.
Written notice of said hearing shall also be sent by the Planning and Zoning Commission by first class mail, at least ten (10) days prior to said public hearing to the owners of property within two hundred (200) feet of any part of the property which is subject of the appeal. Such written notice shall be mailed to the addresses of such owners as appear on the current tax duplicate of the County.
Each appeal filed with said Commission shall be heard within thirty (30) days of the filing of said appeal.