In order to safeguard the life, health, property and public welfare of its citizens, a County Planning Commission will be established and maintained. The further purpose of the Washington County Planning Commission is to plan for future development and to prepare, adopt and amend comprehensive plans to guide future development and to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners and the City/Town Councils of Caryville, Ebro, Vernon and Wausau the needs and plans for subdivision regulations; codes for building, plumbing, electrical, gas, fire, safety, and sanitation; zoning and land development regulations and such other areas as to promote the general well-being of the citizens of the County and municipalities.

(Ord. No. 2023-16, § 1(Exh. A), 12-14-2023)

The Board of County Commissioners of Washington County and the governing bodies of Caryville, Ebro, Vernon and Wausau hereby establish the Washington County Planning Commission to be governed by the provisions of F.S. Ch. 163, in particular F.S. §§ 163.160 through 163.315, as well as the provisions set forth in this Section.

(Ord. No. 2023-16, § 1(Exh. A), 12-14-2023)

Pursuant to, and in accordance with, F.S. Ch. 163, the Washington County Planning Commission is hereby designated and established as the Local Planning Agency (LPA) for the unincorporated areas of the County, as well as for the incorporated municipalities of Caryville, Ebro, Vernon, and Wausau.

(Ord. No. 2023-16, § 1(Exh. A), 12-14-2023)

The Washington County Planning Commission shall consist of seven (7) members, who shall be residents of the County. Each County Commissioner shall nominate one (1) or more persons residing within his commission district, and the Board of County Commissioners shall appoint, from the list of nominees, one (1) person from each commission district to the Planning Commission. In addition, the Board of County Commissioners shall nominate and appoint one (1) at-large member and an additional member shall be a representative from the Washington County School System. Should a majority of the County Commissioners, sitting as a quorum, fail to agree on a particular nominee, then a new nominee shall be submitted by the Commissioner from that district.

(Ord. No. 2023-16, § 1(Exh. A), 12-14-2023)

A.

Generally. The terms of members of the Washington County Planning Commission shall be concurrent with the County Commissioner's tenure as appointed by that Commissioner, each with eligibility for reappointment. The terms of each Planning Commission member shall expire one (1) year after the scheduled election of the Board of County Commission seat for said Districts is filled. The following years shall implement this schedule: 2010 - None; 2011 - District 2, 4, At-Large Commissioners; 2012 - None; 2013 - Districts 1, 3, and 5 Commissioners; 2014 - Board of Education Representative. The term of office for the at-large member and school system representative member shall be four (4) years. Any Planning Commission member can be reappointed.

B.

Vacancy. Any vacancy in membership shall be filled for the unexpired term of the vacancy by the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County pursuant to the same procedure followed in the appointment of the previous member.

C.

Removal of Member. A written notice, identifying the bases for a recommendation for removal, shall be given to a Planning Commission Member, thirty (30) days prior to a public hearing for the removal of said member. The Board of County Commissioners of Washington County shall have the authority to remove any member of the Washington County Planning Commission for cause; on written charges, after a public hearing.

D.

Compensation. All members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in connection with their official duties.

(Ord. No. 2023-16, § 1(Exh. A), 12-14-2023)

A.

Election of Chairman. The Washington County Planning Commission shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from the members recommended for appointment by the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County. The terms of the chairman and vice-chairman shall each be one (1) year with eligibility for re-election.

B.

Appointment of Secretary. The Washington County Planning Commission shall appoint a secretary who may be an officer or employee of the County.

C.

Rules of Procedure. The Washington County Planning Commission shall make its own rules of procedure and determine its time of meeting; provided that its rules of procedure and schedule of meetings shall be provided to the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County and the governing bodies of Caryville, Ebro, Vernon, and Wausau.

D.

Meetings. All meetings of the Washington County Planning Commission shall be open to the public and all records of the Planning Commission shall be public records.

E.

Quorum. A majority of the planning commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

F.

Staffing. The Washington County Planning Commission shall recommend to the Board of County Commissioners the appointment of any and all employees and staff deemed necessary by the Planning Commission for its work as well as any contacts or agreements with the State, other governmental or private planners or consultants for such services as may be deemed necessary by the Planning Commission.

G.

Budget. The Washington County Planning Commission shall annually submit a proposed budget for expenditures of the Planning Commission in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County.

(Ord. No. 2023-16, § 1(Exh. A), 12-14-2023)

The Washington County Planning Commission shall have the following functions, powers, duties, and responsibilities as set forth in F.S. Ch. 163.

A.

Acquire and maintain such information and materials as are necessary to an understanding of past trends, present conditions, and forces at work to cause changes in these conditions. Such information and material must include maps and photographs of manmade and natural physical features of the area concerned. Statistics on past trends and present conditions with respect to population, property values, economic base, land use, and such other information as is important or likely to be important in determining the amount, direction, and kind of development to be expected in the area and its various parts.

B.

Prepare or cause to be prepared a comprehensive plan for Washington County including the municipalities of Caryville, Ebro, Vernon, and Wausau. Adopt and, from time to time, amend and revise said plan for meeting present requirements and such future requirements as may be foreseen.

C.

Prepare and recommend the adoption of a Land Development Code and subsequent amendments thereto and administer the Code as needed.

D.

Review and make recommendations on development orders, development permit applications, and variance requests based on Code requirements to the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, and the Town/City Councils of Caryville, Ebro, Vernon, and Wausau. For Minor Development Review Applications for developments located within the unincorporated county, the Planning Commission may approve variance requests.

E.

Recommend location selection and site planning for public housing renewal projects, community facilities and utilities and other appropriate projects as assigned by the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County and the governing bodies of Caryville, Ebro, Vernon, and Wausau. For Minor Development Review Applications for developments located within the unincorporated county, the Planning Commission may approve variance requests.

F.

Recommend adoption of an official map of the County.

G.

Recommend principles and policies for guiding action in the development of the area.

H.

Conduct such public hearings as may be required to gather information necessary for the drafting, establishment and maintenance of the comprehensive plan and such additional public hearings as are required by Florida Statutes.

I.

Make or cause to be made any necessary special studies on the location, condition and adequacy of facilities or functions administered by the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County and/or by the governing bodies of Caryville, Ebro, Vernon, and Wausau.

J.

Recommend Future Land Use Map designation boundaries in acceptance with the generally accepted rules adopted by the Planning Commission.

K.

Perform any other duties which lawfully may be assigned by the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County and/or the governing bodies of Caryville, Ebro, Vernon, and Wausau, on its activities and progress.

L.

Take appeals from or recommendations by the Development Administrator arising from a development proposal within the geographical area of Washington County to which that Planning Commission has been assigned by the Board of County Commissioners and the governing bodies of Caryville, Ebro, Vernon, and Wausau.

(Ord. No. 2023-16, § 1(Exh. A), 12-14-2023)