Chapter 18.04
COUNTY PLANNING
Sections:
18.04.010 Planning Department established under Chapter 36.70 RCW.
18.04.020 Creation and continuity of Planning Commission.
18.04.030 Planning Commission meetings and hearings.
18.04.040 Powers and duties of Department and Commission.
18.04.050 Planning Director’s responsibility.
18.04.070 Director, Commission to promulgate rules.
18.04.080 Appointments to Commission.
18.04.010 Planning Department established under Chapter 36.70 RCW.
The Board of Cowlitz County Commissioners has elected to operate under the provisions of Chapter 36.70 RCW and will continue to operate. In addition, the Board of Cowlitz County Commissioners has selected the provisions of RCW 36.70.040 and has created a Planning Department, named the Department of Building and Planning under Chapter 2.40 CCC, which has been and will continue to be organized and function as any other department of the county. [Ord. 24-011 § 1, 1-30-24.]
18.04.020 Creation and continuity of Planning Commission.
The Board of County Commissioners, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 36.70 RCW and RCW 36.70.040 does create a planning commission consisting of seven members which shall assist the Planning Department in carrying out its duties, including assistance in the preparation and execution of the Comprehensive Plan and recommendations to the Department for the adoption of official controls and/or amendments thereto. The Planning Commission shall be structured to provide as nearly as possible an equal number of representatives from each commissioner district, with at least two members from each commissioner district.
Upon adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter, all members of the former planning commission shall continue in the same status and terms of office as the newly created planning commission, without interruption. All projects or other business before the former planning commission shall also continue without interruption. [Ord. 24-011 § 1, 1-30-24.]
18.04.030 Planning Commission meetings and hearings.
The Planning Commission shall hold not less than one regular meeting in each month; provided, that if no matters over which the Planning Commission has jurisdiction are pending upon its calendar, a meeting may be canceled.
The Planning Commission shall conduct such hearings as are required by Chapter 36.70 RCW and shall make findings of fact and conclusions therefrom; which shall be transmitted to the Department which shall transmit the same on to the Planning Department to direct to the Board with such comments and recommendations as it deems necessary. [Ord. 24-011 § 1, 1-30-24.]
18.04.040 Powers and duties of Department and Commission.
The authority and duties of the Planning Department and of the Planning Commission shall be such as are now described by Chapter 36.70 RCW, and other applicable laws of the state of Washington. When directed to do so by the Board of Cowlitz County Commissioners, the County Planning Department and the County Planning Commission shall also perform such other duties as are not inconsistent with such state laws. [Ord. 24-011 § 1, 1-30-24.]
18.04.050 Planning Director’s responsibility.
A Director of Planning shall be appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. The Director shall be responsible for the proper operation of the Planning Department; shall have the responsibility of employing, supervising, and dismissing the personnel of the planning staff; and shall be responsible for providing secretarial and technical assistance to the Planning Commission.
Upon adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter, a currently appointed Planning Director shall continue in the same status and terms of office as a newly created Planning Director, without interruption. All projects or other business before the former Planning Director shall also continue without interruption. [Ord. 24-011 § 1, 1-30-24.]
18.04.060 Financing.
The County Planning Department shall incur no financial obligations nor authorize any financial expenditures except for such purposes as are expressly authorized in advance by the Board of County Commissioners in such manner as the law provides. The County Planning Commission shall be subject to the same limitations pertaining to financial obligations or expenditures. Appropriations for the operation of both the Planning Department and the Planning Commission shall be separately identified by the office accounting or other office records of finances shall be kept by the Planning Department. [Ord. 24-011 § 1, 1-30-24.]
18.04.070 Director, Commission to promulgate rules.
The Planning Director shall establish such rules and procedures as are necessary to assure thorough and expeditious dealing with matters properly the concern of the Planning Department except that such procedure shall not be in contravention of state law or county resolutions.
The Planning Commission shall adopt its own procedures and rules governing the conducting of its internal affairs; provided, that such procedures and rules shall not be in conflict with state or county laws and regulations. [Ord. 24-011 § 1, 1-30-24.]
18.04.080 Appointments to Commission.
Members of the Planning Commission shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners with the approval of the Board; provided, that each member of the Board shall submit to the Chairman a list of nominees residing in his commissioner district and the Chairman shall make his appointments from such list so that as nearly as is mathematically possible, each commissioner district shall be equally represented on the Planning Commission. [Ord. 24-011 § 1, 1-30-24.]
18.04.090 Terms of office.
The terms of office for members of the County Planning Commission shall be for four years, with staggered terms of office for members of said Planning Commission as set forth in RCW 36.70.070, 36.70.080, 36.70.090, and 36.70.100, and this section. [Ord. 24-011 § 1, 1-30-24.]
18.04.100 Vacancies.
Vacancies resulting from the expiration of terms of office shall be filled by appointments for a term of four years. Vacancies occurring for any reason other than the expiration of a term of office shall be by appointment for the unexpired term of the office being filled. [Ord. 24-011 § 1, 1-30-24.]
18.04.110 Quorum – Meetings.
Four members of the Planning Commission shall constitute a quorum. All actions of the Planning Commission shall be determined by a majority vote at a meeting of which a quorum is present; provided, that where state law or county resolution requires a vote larger than the majority of a quorum, such provisions shall govern. [Ord. 24-011 § 1, 1-30-24.]