Dorchester County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE III
Planning Commission; Director of Planning
§ 155-14 Membership; terms; removal from office; vacancies; compensation.
The Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the County Commissioners for staggered five-year terms or until a successor takes office. Five members shall be appointed to represent each of the five County Commissioner districts. The remaining two members shall be appointed to serve as at-large representatives. Members may, after a public hearing, be removed from office by the County Commissioners for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. The County Commissioners shall file a written statement of reasons for such removal. Vacancies occurring otherwise than through the expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term by the County Commissioners. Members may serve with such compensation as the County Commissioners deem appropriate.
§ 155-15 Organization; meetings; adoption of rules and regulations; maintenance of records.
The Commission shall elect a Chairman from its membership. The Chairman's term shall be one year with eligibility for reelection. The Commission shall hold at least one regular meeting each month. It shall adopt rules for the transaction of business, which shall be posted in the office of the Director of Planning and available to the public in written form, and shall keep a public record of its resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations. The Commission shall be responsible for securing and releasing legal counsel within the limits of the budget approved by the County Commissioners.
§ 155-16 Duties.
A.
Included among the duties of the Planning Commission under this chapter are the following:
(1)
The Commission shall make investigations and recommendations with regard to zoning amendment applications as directed by the County Commissioners as prescribed in § 155-5 of this chapter.
(2)
The Commission shall advise the Board of Appeals on all applications for special exceptions and variances as prescribed in § 155-24 of this chapter.
(3)
The Commission shall approve site plans when required by this chapter or when required by the Board of Appeals.
§ 155-17 Office of Director of Planning established.
[Amended 6-8-2004 by Bill No. 2004-5]
A.
Creation of office. There is hereby established the office of Director of Planning for Dorchester County. The County Council shall appoint a Director of Planning for Dorchester County who shall serve at the pleasure of the Council and shall report directly to the County Manager. The Director of Planning shall be subject to County fiscal and personnel policies.
B.
Administration and enforcement.
(1)
This chapter shall be administered and enforced by the Director of Planning. The Director may be provided with the assistance of such other persons as the County Council may direct, and he may delegate, upon the approval of the County Manager, such duties and responsibilities in connection with the administration and enforcement of this chapter as are appropriate, in his judgment.
(2)
If the Director of Planning shall find that any of the provisions of this chapter are being violated, he shall notify, by certified mail, the person responsible for such violation, indicating the nature of the violation and ordering the action necessary to correct it within a reasonable length of time. If, at the conclusion of said reasonable length of time, the violation has not, in the judgment of the Director of Planning, been satisfactorily corrected, then the Director shall order or seek means to bring about the correction of such violation, including the discontinuance of the illegal use, buildings or structures or of illegal additions, alterations or structural changes or the discontinuance of any illegal work or activity being done, or shall take any other action authorized by law to ensure compliance with or prevent violation of the provisions of this chapter.