DIVISION II. ADMINISTRATION AND PERMIT PROCEDURES

Chapter 17.10
IDENTIFICATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF DESIGNATED PLANNING AGENCIES

Sections:

17.10.010    Purpose

17.10.020    Composition Of The Greenfield Planning Agency

17.10.030    Responsibilities Of The City Council

17.10.040    Responsibilities Of The Planning Commission

17.10.050    Additional Provisions For The Planning Commission

17.10.060    Responsibilities Of The Planning Director

17.10.010 Purpose:

The purpose of this chapter is to establish the administration of this title and to set forth the basic responsibilities of the officials and bodies charged with its administration. (Ord. 473 §3, 2007)

17.10.020 Composition Of The Greenfield Planning Agency:

California Government Code section 65100 requires each jurisdiction to establish a planning agency to carry out the land use and planning functions of the jurisdiction. The functions of the planning agency, as designated by this title, may be anyone of the following, as further defined in this section and title. In the absence of an assignment, the city council shall have the planning agency responsibility and authority.

A.    City council.

B.    Planning commission.

C.    Planning director. Responsible agencies shall have such duties as assigned by this title. (Ord. 473 §3, 2007)

17.10.030 Responsibilities Of The City Council:

The city council shall have the following land use responsibilities:

A.    Review applications for and approve membership on the planning commission.

B.    Hear and decide appeals of the planning commission decisions.

C.    Hear and decide applications for zoning ordinance amendments, general plan and amendments thereto, specific plans, special planning areas, prezoning, annexations, major subdivisions, boundary adjustments, and planned developments. In the event that applications for other land use permits are requested in conjunction with these entitlements, the city council shall also be the final decision making body for the other land use permits.

D.    Direct planning related policy amendments and special studies as necessary or desired.

E.    Exercise such other powers and duties as are prescribed by state law or local ordinance. (Ord. 473 §3, 2007)

17.10.040 Responsibilities Of The Planning Commission:

The planning commission shall have the following land use responsibilities:

A.    Hear and decide appeals of the planning director’s decisions.

B.    Hear and decide applications for minor subdivision tentative maps and tentative parcel maps, conditional use permits, variances, and design review.

C.    Hear and make recommendations to the city council on applications or proposals for amendments to this title.

D.    Initiate studies of amendments to this title and make recommendations to the city council for amendments to this title.

E.    Hear and make recommendations to the city council on applications for standard tentative subdivisions, zoning amendments, general plan and amendments thereto, specific plans, special planning areas, development agreements, prezoning, annexations, boundary adjustments, minor subdivision maps, tentative parcel maps, and other related planning studies.

F.    Exercise such other powers and duties as are prescribed by state law, local ordinance, or as directed by the city council. (Ord. 473 §3, 2007)

17.10.050 Additional Provisions For The Planning Commission:

A.    Membership And Term: There shall be five (5) members of the planning commission. People interested in becoming commissioners must submit an application for review by staff and the city council. The city council approves applications and appoints planning commissioners by majority vote. Commissioners shall not be officials or employees of the city, but shall be residents of the city or of the area of the sphere of influence of the city. Planning commissioners’ terms will be three (3) years, subject to reappointment.

B.    Removal From Office: Members of the commission serve at the pleasure of the city council and may be removed from office by a vote of a majority of the members of the city council. No public hearing need be held prior to removal, and no cause for removal need be shown.

C.    Vacancies: If a member of the planning commission is unable or unwilling to complete his or her term, the planning director shall publicize the vacancy in the local newspaper and on the city website. The planning director is responsible for accepting applications and agendizing review of the applications by the city council within a reasonable period. The city council by majority vote shall appoint another person to serve for a three (3) year term commencing with the date of the appointment.

D.    Compensation: Each appointee to the planning commission shall receive compensation as determined by resolution of the city council.

E.    Rules: The planning commission shall adopt rules of procedure, which shall govern the conduct of hearings and other business of the commission. Copies of the rules shall be published and shall be available at the office of the clerk of the city council.

F.    Organization: The planning commission members shall annually select a chairperson and vice chairperson amongst themselves and shall determine the time, place, and frequency of regular meetings.

G.    Committees: The planning commission is authorized to create committees from their membership as needed to conduct their business. Business discussed at subcommittee meetings shall be discussed at the next planning commission hearing, as appropriate.

H.    Quorum And Voting: A quorum shall consist of a majority of the membership. The approval of any action by the planning commission shall require the affirmative votes of a simple majority of the quorum. (Ord. 538 (part), 2019; Ord. 473 §3, 2007)

17.10.060 Responsibilities Of The Planning Director:

The planning director, or designee, shall have the responsibility and authority to administer and enforce this title as follows:

A.    Maintain the sections of this title, zoning map, and all records of zoning actions and interpretations;

B.    Advise the city council, city manager, and planning commission on planning matters;

C.    Decide administrative permits, including zoning clearance/plan check, administrative design review, minor deviations, minor use permits, and temporary use permits;

D.    Assign identifying project numbers at the point of application for all administrative permits and discretionary projects and manage filing protocols that ensure adequate retrieval of materials in compliance with public record act requests;

E.    Preside over staff meetings and provide administrative services for the planning commission;

F.    Direct planning related policy amendments and special studies as necessary or desired. Conduct administrative functions authorized by this title, including distribution and receipt of permit applications and corresponding fees, application review and public noticing, determination and issuance of administrative permits and approvals, and preparation of staff reports with recommendations, proposed findings, and proposed conditions for quasi-judicial and legislative actions by designated planning agencies. For a comprehensive list of permits, see chapter 17.16, "Permit Requirements", of this title;

G.    Provide information to the public and facilitate public participation on planning matters; and

H.    Exercise such other powers and duties as are prescribed by state law, local ordinance, or as directed by the city manager. (Ord. 473 §3, 2007)