There is hereby created the "City of Laurel Planning Commission," throughout this article referred to as the "Commission."

The Commission shall consist of five (5) appointed members, a member of the City Council serving in an ex officio, nonvoting, capacity, all of whom shall be appointed by the Mayor, and confirmed by the Council. No member shall be an employee of the City. All members must be City residents. There shall also be an alternate member of the Commission who shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. Except for the term of the member from the City Council, the terms of all members, including the alternate member, shall be for five (5) years, or until their successors take office. The term of the City Council Member shall be for two (2) years, concurrent with his or her official term of office as Council Member; or until their successor takes office as a member of the Commission. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term of the Council Member appointed shall cease whenever their official tenure as a member of the City Council shall terminate. A vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which a member of the Commission is appointed shall be filled in a like manner for the remainder of the unexpired term for which the predecessor was appointed. All members of the Commission shall serve as such without compensation.

The Commission shall elect a Chairman and a Vice-chairman from among its members appointed by the Mayor. The terms of the Chairman and Vice-chairman shall be one (1) year with eligibility for reelection. The election shall take place at the first regular meeting of the calendar year. he Vice-chairman shall take the place of the Chairman in his or her absence.

(Ord. No. 1877, 9-26-2016)

The Commission shall have the powers and duties as set out in the Land Use Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

(Ord. No. 1987, 10-25-2021)

(a)

The Planning Commission and the City Council shall hold public hearings on all plans, regulations and other proposals for which such hearings are required under the Land Use Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. In connection with such hearings the Mayor and City Council or the Planning Commission, as the case may be, shall give public notice of at least fifteen (15) days by publication in a newspaper in general circulation published within the City or a newspaper of record designated by the Prince George's County Council. Every such notice shall include the time and place of the hearing, a description, or summary of the proposals to be considered at the hearing, and the place where a copy of such proposals may be obtained. At all such hearings interested persons shall be afforded an opportunity to submit data, views, or regulations, with respect to the proposals under consideration.

(b)

In connection with hearings conducted by the Mayor and City Council, there shall be prepared and kept a written transcript thereof. After any such hearing, the Mayor and City Council shall, by resolution adopted by yea and nay vote in open session, on the basis of the record in the proceeding, either adopt with or without modification, or reject, the proposed plans or regulations in whole or in part.

(Ord. No. 1987, 10-25-2021)

The City Administrator shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Planning Commission and the City Solicitor shall serve as attorney for the Commission. There may be appointed a Director of Ecomonic and Communicty Development, and such other employees as may be deemed necessary for the Commission to carry out its functions. All applications, plats, maps, and other matters and papers as are required to be filed with the Commission by the Land Use Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, and other applicable laws, as amended, or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, shall be deemed filed when filed with the City Administrator or the Director of the Department of Economic and Community Development, and in either case the City Administrator, Director of the Department of Economic Community Development or Departmental staff shall be responsible for presenting all such applications, plats, maps and other matters or papers to the Commission for its consideration and action.

(Ord. No. 1987, 10-25-2021)