Chapter 2.28
PLANNING COMMISSION
Sections:
2.28.030 Vacancy--Selection--Compensation.
2.28.050 Meetings, election of officers, and proceedings.
2.28.060 Budget and expenditures.
2.28.070 Research agency functions.
2.28.090 Comprehensive plan--Preparation.
2.28.100 Comprehensive plan--Recommendation.
2.28.120 Comprehensive plan--Amendment.
2.28.130 Reports referred for investigation.
2.28.140 Subdivision plats or plans.
2.28.150 Secretary--Designation--Compensation.
2.28.160 Quorum and order of business.
2.28.010 Establishment.
The planning commission of the town is created pursuant to the authority conferred by RCW 35.63.010 et seq., and shall consist of nine members selected as follows: The mayor of the town 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 their terms of office, and the eight other members of the commission shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the town council of Wilbur. (Ord. 76-B §1(part), 1978)
2.28.020 Membership--Term.
Of the eight appointed members of the commission, 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 the 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 for the members of the planning commission expire, their successors shall be appointed for terms of six years. The term of office of the ex officio member of the commission shall correspond to his elective term as mayor of the town. (Ord. 76-B §1 (part), 1978)
2.28.030 Vacancy--Selection--Compensation.
Vacancies occurring otherwise and through the expiration of regular appointive terms shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term only. Members of the commission may be removed, after public hearing, by the appointing official, with the approval of the town council, for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. The members of the planning commission are to be selected without respect to political affiliation and they shall serve without compensation. (Ord. 76-B §l(part), 1978)
2.28.040 Powers and duties.
The planning commission shall have all of the powers and shall perform the duties specified by RCW 35.63.010, et seq., together with laws of the state. The performance of such duties and the exercise of such powers shall be in all cases subject to the limitations expressed in the laws of the state. (Ord. 76-B §2, 1978)
2.28.050 Meetings, election of officers, and proceedings.
The town planning commission shall elect its own chairman and create and fill such other offices as it may determine that 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. The commission shall elect its officers annually in March of each year. (Ord. 76-B §3, 1978)
2.28.060 Budget and expenditures.
The expenditures of the town planning commission shall be within the amounts appropriated for the purpose by the town council. Within such budgeted limits, the town planning commission may employ such employees and expert consultants as are deemed necessary for its work.(Ord. 76-B §4, 1978)
2.28.070 Research agency functions.
The commission may act as a research and factfinding agency for the town. To that end it may make such surveys, analyses, researches and reports as are generally authorized or requested by the town council. The commission, upon such request or on its own authority may also:
A. Make inquiries, investigations, and surveys concerning the resources of the town and environs;
B. Assemble and analyze the data thus obtained and formulate plans for the conservation of such resources and the systematic utilization and development thereof;
C. Make recommendations from time to time as to the best methods of such conservation, utilization, and developments;
D. Cooperate with other commissions, with the state council and with other public agencies of the town, county, state and United States in such planning, conservation, and developments; and
E. In particular to 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. 76-B §5, 1978)
2.28.080 Authority.
The town planning commission may provide for the preparation, adoption and enforcement of coordinated plans for the physical development of the town. For this purpose, the planning commission shall recommend to the town council such measures as it deems reasonably necessary or requisite for the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the town. Further, the commission may recommend to the council the adoption by ordinance or resolution such regulations, restrictions on the location and use of buildings, structures and land, for residential, trade, industrial and other purposes, including height, number of stories, size, construction and design of such buildings and other structures. Such recommendations may also include size of yards, courts and other open spaces on the lot or tract of land, limitations as to density of population, requirements concerning setback of buildings on public highways, streets, parks or water frontages, and may also include regulations concerning the subdivision and development of land within the bounds of the town. (Ord. 76-B §6, 1978)
2.28.090 Comprehensive plan--Preparation.
All regulations shall be worked out as part of a comprehensive plan which the commission shall prepare for the physical and other general development of the town and shall be designed among other things, to encourage the most appropriate use of land through the town; 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 to promote other public uses and requirements. (Ord. 76-B §7, 1978)
2.28.100 Comprehensive plan--Recommendation.
The town planning commission may recommend to the town 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, divisions or subdivisions of the town, 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 town council, 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 town. A copy of the ordinance or resolution adopting or embodying such plan or any part thereof or any amendment thereto, duly certified as a true copy by the clerk of the town, 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. 76-B §8, 1978)
2.28.110 District divisions.
The planning commission may recommend to the town council a division of the town or portions thereof into districts of such size, shape and area as may be deemed appropriate for the establishment of official maps or development plans, or portions of the town as may be deemed best for the implementing of the general purposes of the planning commission and the ultimate development of the entire town and within such districts, the planning commission may propose regulations and restrictions on the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair or use of buildings and structures, as well as the land upon which they are located. (Ord. 76-B §9, 1978)
2.28.120 Comprehensive plan--Amendment.
The planning commission may recommend to the town council the adoption of amendments, supplements or modifications of existing plans or regulations, the same to be accomplished by appropriate ordinance or resolution, as the case may be. (Ord. 76-B §10, 1978)
2.28.130 Reports referred for investigation.
The planning commission shall study any ordinance, resolution or other proposal relating to the regulation and use of land within the context of these rules and regulations, town ordinances and RCW 35.63, and shall promptly report to the council thereon, making such recommendations and giving such counsel as it may deem proper in the premises. (Ord. 76-B §11, 1978)
2.28.140 Subdivision plats or plans.
All plats or plans for subdivisions of land within the town or proposed additions thereof, as well as the public dedication of streets and alleys, and vacations thereof, offered to the town council for acceptance shall first be submitted to the planning commission for its recommendation and report. Such report shall be made to the town council within thirty days after submission. (Ord. 76-B §12, 1978)
2.28.150 Secretary--Designation--Compensation.
The planning commission may designate one of its members to act as secretary without salary, or if requested by the planning commission, the mayor may designate a member of the paid staff of the town to serve as the secretary, who shall serve without additional compensation. (Ord. 76-B §13, 1978)
2.28.160 Quorum and order of business.
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. “Robert's Rules of Order,” as amended, shall constitute the rules of procedure at commission meetings and hearings. The regular meetings of the commission shall be on the third Monday of each month at seven-thirty p.m. for those months of the year designated by commission action. (Ord. 76-B §14, 1978)
2.28.170 Annual report.
The planning commission, at or before its regular meeting in October each year, shall make a full report in writing to the town 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. 76-B §15, 1978)