(a) Composition and Term. According to Section VI-1 of the Willoughby Charter, the Planning Commission shall be composed of five members who are electors of the City, four of whom shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council, and one of whom shall be elected by Council from its membership for his or her term as councilman. No member of the Planning Commission who is appointed by the mayor shall hold any other public office or position in the City.
The terms of appointed members shall be four years. Any appointed member of the Commission may be removed for cause by the Mayor after a public hearing. Any vacancy during the unexpired term of an appointed member shall be filled by a new appointment for the remainder of the term.
(b) Organization and Quorum. The Commission shall elect its chairman from among the appointed members, and shall prescribe rules for the conduct of its affairs. A majority of the members of the Planning Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business, and action by the Commission on any matter shall be effected by the concurring votes of at least a majority of its members.
A member of Commission shall not be qualified to vote on an application if he or she has a direct or indirect interest in the application.
(c) Powers and Duties of the Commission. For the purpose of this Planning and Zoning Code, the Planning Commission shall have the following powers and duties.
(1) To adopt and recommend to City Council plans for the physical development of the City, or the redevelopment of any area or district therein which shall include the location of streets and other public ways, parks, playgrounds, recreation areas and other public places.
(2) To review and recommend to City Council plans and maps for dividing the City or any portion thereof into zones or districts representing the recommendations of the Commission in the interest of the public health, safety, convenience, comfort, prosperity or general welfare in accordance with the purpose of the Planning and Zoning Code.
(3) To review all development plans required by this Code.
(4) To review all applications for conditional use permits for a particular zoning lot according to provisions and criteria stated in this Code.
(5) To make a determination that a proposed use that is not listed or provided for in this Code is substantially similar to a principal or conditional use that is listed and provided for in this Code.
(6) To review all proposed amendments to the Planning and Zoning Code and Zoning Districts Map and to submit to Council the Commission's recommendations with respect to such proposed amendments.
(7) To investigate and to propose on its own initiative such amendments to the Planning and Zoning Code as it may deem consistent with the purposes of this Planning and Zoning Code and which further the public health, safety and general welfare of Willoughby.
(8) To review and act on all plans and plats for the subdivision of land.
(9) To adopt rules and bylaws for the holding of regular and special meetings, for the transaction and disposition of its business and the exercise of its powers.
(d) Record of Decisions. The Planning Commission is authorized to engage the services of a secretary, and shall provide a detailed report of all its proceedings, setting forth its decision, the vote of each member participating therein, and the absence of a member or his failure to vote.
Immediately following the Planning Commission's decision, such record, including conditions prescribed by the Planning Commission, shall be filed and posted for two weeks in the offices of the Building and Zoning Inspector, and copies shall be mailed forthwith to each interested party noted therein.
Any permit issued in pursuance of any decision of the Planning Commission shall have incorporated therein any special conditions prescribed by the Commission.
(Ord. 2020-21. Passed 2-18-20.)