Chapter 2.80
PLANNING COMMISSION
Sections:
2.80.010 Membership.
The Planning Commission shall consist of seven members. The Chairperson of the Town Board may decline to serve on the Planning Commission in which case the Town Chairperson shall select a presiding officer. A Town Board Member may serve as Commission Chairperson. Appointees to the Planning Commission may be removed for cause by a majority of the Town Board or without cause, upon unanimous vote of the Town Board. Appointees to the Planning Commission serve at the pleasure of the Board, under the foregoing procedure for removal, with staggered three-year terms. Vacancies on the Commission may be appointed for three-year terms or to fill the term of the vacancy. (Ord. 2009-14 § 1. 2008 code § 1.16(1))
2.80.020 Powers and duties.
1. Functions. It shall be the function and duty of the Commission to make and adopt a master plan for the physical development of the Town. The master plan, with the accompanying maps, plats, charts and descriptive and explanatory matter, shall show the Commission’s recommendations for such physical development, and may include, among other things without limitation because of enumeration, the general location, character and extent of streets, highways, freeways, street grades, roadways, walks, bridges, viaducts, parking areas, tunnels, public places and areas, parks, parkways, playgrounds, sites for public buildings and structures, airports, pier head and bulkhead lines, waterways, routes for railroads, street railways and buses, and the general location and extent of sewers, water conduits and other public utilities whether privately or publicly owned, the acceptance, widening, narrowing, extension, relocation, removal, vacation, abandonment or change of use of any of the foregoing public ways, grounds, places, spaces, buildings, properties, utilities, routes or terminals, the general location, character and extent and layout of the replanning of blighted districts and slum areas, and a comprehensive zoning plan. The Commission may from time to time amend, extend or add to the master plan or carry any part of subject matter into greater detail. The Commission may adopt rules for the transaction of business and shall keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations, which record shall be a public record.
2. The Master Plan.
a. The master plan shall be made with the general purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development of the Town which will, in accordance with existing and future needs, best promote public health, safety, morals, order, and convenience, prosperity or the general welfare, as well as efficiency and economy in the process of development.
b. The Commission may adopt the master plan as a whole by a single resolution, or, as the work of making the whole master plan progresses, may from time to time by resolution adopt a part or parts thereof, any such part to correspond generally with one or more of the functional subdivisions of the subject matter of the plan. The adoption of the plan or any part, amendment or addition, shall be by resolution carried by the affirmative votes of not less than a majority of all the members of the Town Plan Commission. The resolution shall refer expressly to the maps, descriptive matter, and other matters intended by the Commission to form the whole or any part of the plan, and the action shall be recorded on the adopted plan or part thereof by the identifying signature of the secretary of the Commission, and a copy of the plan or part thereof shall be certified to the Town Board. The purpose and effect of the adoption and certifying of the master plan or part thereof shall be solely to aid the Town Plan Commission and the Board in the performance of their duties.
c. Miscellaneous Powers of the Commission. The Commission may make reports and recommendations relating to the plan and development of the Town to public officials and agencies, public utility companies, civic, education, professional and other organizations and citizens. It may recommend to the Chairperson or Town Board programs for public improvements and the financing thereof. All public officials shall, upon request, furnish to the Commission within a reasonable time such available information as it may require for its work. The Commission, its members and employees, in the performance of its functions may enter upon any land, make examinations and surveys, and place and maintain necessary monuments and marks thereon. In general, the commission shall have such powers as may be necessary to enable it to perform its functions and promote Town planning.
d. Matters Referred to Town Plan Commission. The Board or other public body or officer of the Town having final authority thereon shall refer to the Town Plan Commission for its consideration and report before final action is taken by the Board, public body or officer, the following matters: The location and architectural design of any public building; the location of any statue or other memorial; the location, acceptance, extension, alteration, vacation, abandonment, change of use, sale, acquisition of land for, or lease of land for any street, alley or other public way, park, playground, airport, area for parking vehicles, or other memorials or public grounds; the location, extension, abandonment, or authorization for any public utility whether publicly or privately owned; all plats of lands in the Town or within the territory over which the Town is given platting jurisdiction by Wis. Stat. Ch. 236; the location, character and extent or acquisition, leasing or sale of lands for public or semipublic housing, slum clearance, relief of congestion, or vacation camps for children; and the amendment or repeal of any ordinance adopted pursuant to this section. Unless such report is made within 30 days, or such longer period as may be stipulated by the Board, the Board or other public body or officer may take final action without it.
e. The Plan Commission shall have the powers and duties regarding architectural control delegated to it.
f. All matters submitted to and received by the Planning Commission for review on or after November 1, 2012, shall be accompanied by a $300.00 nonrefundable application fee. The Planning Commission may defer on any such review if such fee is not provided. (Ord. 2012-6 § 1; Ord. 2009-14 § 1. 2008 code § 1.16(2))