Chapter 2.24
PLANNING COMMISSION1
Sections:
2.24.010 Creation – Members – Terms.
2.24.030 Meetings – Chairman – Proceedings.
2.24.070 Purpose of regulations.
2.24.090 Recommendation of comprehensive plan.
2.24.100 District divisions – Regulations.
2.24.120 Recommendation – Report.
2.24.150 Majority constitutes quorum.
2.24.010 Creation – Members – Terms.
Pursuant to the authority conferred by RCW 35.63.101 et seq., there is created a city planning commission, consisting of nine members who will be selected as follows: The mayor of the city shall automatically be an ex officio member of the commission during the periods of his incumbency in such office; and his successors in office shall likewise automatically be ex officio members of the commission during the periods of their incumbency in such office; the other eight members shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council.
Of the first eight members of the commission appointed, the terms of two shall expire six years from the date of their appointment; the terms of two shall expire five years from the date of their appointment; the term of one shall expire four years from the date of his appointment; the term of one shall expire three years from the date of his appointment; the term of one shall expire two years from the date of his appointment; and the term of one shall expire one year from the date of his appointment. Thereafter, as the terms of office of the members of the city planning commission expire or terminate, their successors shall be appointed for a term of six years. It is the intent of this section that the term of office for the ex officio member shall correspond to his respective tenure in the office of mayor. The term of office for the first appointive members is designated from one to six years in such manner as to provide that the fewest possible terms will expire in any one year. Thereafter, the term of office for each appointive member shall be six years.
Vacancies occurring otherwise than through the expiration of terms shall be filled for the unexpired terms only. Members may be removed, after public hearing, by the appointing official, with the approval of the city council, for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. The members of the city planning commission shall be selected without respect to political affiliations and they shall serve without compensation. (Ord. 354 § 1, 1959).
2.24.020 Powers – Duties.
The planning commission shall have all the powers and perform each and all of the duties specified by RCW 35.63.010 et seq., together with any other duties or authority which may hereafter be conferred upon it by the laws of the state, the performance of such duties and the exercise of such authority to be subject to each and all the limitations expressed in such legislative enactment or enactments. (Ord. 354 § 2, 1959).
2.24.030 Meetings – Chairman – Proceedings.
The city planning commission shall elect its own chairman and create and fill such other offices as it may determine it requires. The commission shall hold at least one regular meeting in each month for not less than nine months in each year. It shall adopt rules for transaction of business and shall keep a written record of its proceedings which shall be a public record. (Ord. 354 § 3, 1959).
2.24.040 Expenditures.
The expenditures of the city planning commission shall be within the amounts appropriated for the purpose by the city council. Within such limits, the city planning commission may employ such employees and expert consultants as are deemed necessary for its work. (Ord. 354 § 4, 1959).
2.24.050 Research agency.
The commission may act as the research and fact-finding agency of the municipality. To that end it may make such surveys, analyses, researches and reports as are generally authorized or requested by the city council. The commission, upon such request or authority may also:
(1) Make inquiries, investigations, and surveys concerning the resources of the country;
(2) Assemble and analyze the data thus obtained and formulate plans for the conservation of such resources and the systematic utilization and development thereof;
(3) Make recommendations from time to time as to the best methods of such conservation, utilization, and developments;
(4) Cooperate with other commissions, with the state council and with other public agencies of the municipality, state and United States in such planning, conservation, and developments; and
(5) In particular cooperate with and aid the state council within its territorial limits in the preparation of the state master plan and in advance planning of public works programs. (Ord. 354 § 5, 1959).
2.24.060 Council authority.
The city council may provide for the preparation by its commission and the adoption and enforcement of coordinated plans for the physical developments of the municipality. For this purpose the city council, in such measure as is deemed reasonably necessary or requisite in the interest of health, safety, morals and the general welfare, upon recommendation by its commission, by ordinance or resolution may regulate and restrict the location and the use of buildings, structures and land for residence, trade, industrial and other purposes; the height, number of stories, size, construction and design of buildings and other structures; the size of yards, courts and other open spaces on the lot or tract; the density of population; the setback of buildings along highways, parks or public water frontages; and the subdivision and development of land. (Ord. 354 § 6, 1959).
2.24.070 Purpose of regulations.
All regulations shall be worked out as parts of a comprehensive plan which the commission shall prepare for the physical and other generally advantageous development of the municipality and shall be designed among other things, to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the municipality; to lessen traffic congestion and accidents; to secure safety from fire; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent overcrowding of land; to avoid undue concentration of population; to promote a coordinated development of the unbuilt areas; to encourage the formation of neighborhood or community units; to secure an appropriate allotment of land area in new developments for the requirements of community life; to conserve and restore natural beauty and other natural resources; to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage and other public uses and requirements. (Ord. 354 § 7, 1959).
2.24.080 Board of adjustment.
The city council may, on the recommendation of its planning commission, provide for the appointment of a board of adjustment, to make in appropriate cases and subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards established by ordinance, special exceptions in harmony with the general purposes and intent and in accordance with general or specific rules therein contained. (Ord. 354 § 8, 1959).
2.24.090 Recommendation of comprehensive plan.
The city planning commission may recommend to the city council the plan prepared by it as a whole, or may recommend parts of the plan by successive recommendations; the parts corresponding with geographic or political sections, division or subdivisions of the municipality, or with functional subdivisions of the subject matter of the plan. It may also prepare and recommend any amendment or extension thereof or addition thereto. Before the recommendation of the initial plan to the municipality, the commission shall hold at least one public hearing thereon, giving notice of the time and place by one publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. A copy of the ordinance or resolution adopting or embodying such plans or any part thereof or any amendment thereto, duly certified as a true copy by the clerk-treasurer of the city, shall be filed with the county auditor. A like certified copy of any map or plat referred to or adopted by ordinance or resolution shall likewise be filed with the county auditor. The auditor shall record the ordinance or resolution and keep on file the map or plat. (Ord. 354 § 9, 1959).
2.24.100 District divisions – Regulations.
For any or all such purposes the city council, on recommendation of its commission may divide the municipality or any portion thereof into districts of such size, shape and area, or may establish such official maps or development plans for the whole or any portion of the municipality, as may be deemed best suited to carry out the purposes of this chapter and within such districts it may regulate and restrict the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair or use of buildings, structures or land. (Ord. 354 § 10, 1959).
2.24.110 Amendments.
Any ordinance or resolution adopting any such plan or regulations, or any part thereof, may be amended, supplemented, or modified by subsequent ordinance or resolution adopted upon recommendation of or with the concurrence of the city planning commission. (Ord. 354 § 11, 1959).
2.24.120 Recommendation – Report.
The city council may refer to the planning commission for its recommendation and report any ordinance, resolution or other proposal relating to any of the matters and subjects referred to in DMC 2.24.060 through 2.24.110, and the planning commission shall promptly report to the council thereon, making such recommendations and giving such counsel as it may deem proper in the premises. (Ord. 354 § 12, 1959).
2.24.130 Subdivisions.
All plats or plans of subdivisions of land within the city or proposed additions, as well as dedications of streets and alleys, offered to the city council for acceptance shall first be submitted to the planning commission for its recommendation and report, which report shall be made to the council within 30 days after submission, or at such earlier date as the council shall direct. (Ord. 354 § 13, 1959).
2.24.140 Secretary.
The planning commission may designate one of its members to act as secretary without salary, or if requested by the planning commission the mayor shall designate a member of the paid staff of the city to serve as the secretary, who shall serve without additional compensation. (Ord. 354 § 14, 1959).
2.24.150 Majority constitutes quorum.
A majority of the membership of the planning commission, not less than four of whom shall be appointed members, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Any action taken by a majority of those present when those present constitute a quorum, at any regular or special meeting of the planning commission shall be deemed and taken as the action of the commission. (Ord. 354 § 15, 1959).
2.24.160 Report.
The planning commission, at or before its first regular meeting in February each year, shall make a full report in writing to the city council of its transactions and expenditures, if any, for the preceding year, with such general recommendations as to matters covered by its prescribed duties and authority as may to it seem proper. (Ord. 354 § 16, 1959).
For statutory provisions regarding the appointment of the city planning commission, see RCW 35.63.020, and for provisions regarding the power and authority of the planning commission, see Chapter 35.63 RCW.