13-101. Planning and zoning commission; membership; appointment; terms; vacancies.
The Wakefield Planning and Zoning Commission shall consist of seven members. Five of the seven members must reside inside the city limits of Wakefield. The remaining two members of the Commission may live within a three mile radius of the city but are not required to do so. Under no circumstances may any member reside more than three miles from the city limits of Wakefield. Members shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council and shall serve the following terms: initially two of the seven shall serve one year terms, two shall serve two year terms, and three shall serve three years terms; thereafter all terms shall be three years. Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of the resigning member’s term only. There shall be no compensation.
(Ord. 1092, Ord. 1095; Ord. 1110; Ord. 1111; Ord. 1252; Code 2015)
The Commission shall meet at least once per quarter, on the first Tuesday of January, April, July, and October at the time and place fixed by the Chairman. The Commission shall select one member as Chairman and the Chairman shall appoint one member as Secretary. It shall be the responsibility of the Chairman to preside over the meetings and the Secretary shall record minutes of the meetings. Special meetings may be held at the call of the Chairman. A majority of the members will constitute a quorum.
(Ord. 1092, Ord. 1095; Ord. 1110; Ord. 1111; Ord. 1252; Code 2015)
The Wakefield Planning and Zoning Commission shall make recommendations to the Wakefield City Council on issues involving planning and zoning within its geographical area of responsibility. The City Council shall have the final approval authority on all recommendations made by the Commission.
(Ord. 1092, Ord. 1095; Ord. 1110; Ord. 1111; Ord. 1252; Code 2015)
The City Superintendent of the City of Wakefield shall be an ex-officio member of the Wakefield Planning and Zoning Commission. As such, he will attend meetings in an advisory capacity only and will not have a vote. He will not direct or guide the meetings, that will be the sole responsibility of the Chairman.
(Ord. 1092, Ord. 1095; Ord. 1110; Ord. 1111; Ord. 1252; Code 2015)
The duties of the Wakefield Planning and Zoning Commission shall be the combined duties and responsibilities previously held by the Wakefield Planning Commission and the Wakefield Board of Zoning Appeals.
(Ord. 1092, Ord. 1095; Ord. 1110; Ord. 1111; Ord. 1252; Code 2015)
The Wakefield Planning and Zoning Commission is hereby designated to also serve as the city’s board of zoning appeals with all the powers and duties as provided for in K.S.A. 12-759. The board shall adopt rules in the form of bylaws for its operation which shall include hearing procedures. Such bylaws shall be subject to the approval of the governing body. Public records shall be kept of all official actions of the board which shall be maintained separately from those of the commission. The board shall keep minutes of its proceedings showing evidence presented, findings of fact, decisions and the vote upon each question or appeal. A majority of the members of the board present and voting at the hearing shall be required to decide any appeal. Subject to subsequent approval of the governing body, the board shall establish a scale of reasonable fees to be paid in advance by the appealing party.