The Town Council shall create a Planning Commission to advise the council of planning, land use, zoning, community development, and other matters as referred by council, as well as to review subdivision plats, if applicable.

The Planning Commission shall consist of five (5) members, to be appointed by the Town Council for terms of four (4) years or for the remaining unexpired term of the member succeeded. Prospective Planning Commission members shall be nominated by a Town Council member and approved by a majority vote of those Town Council members present and voting. All Planning Commission members must be legal residents of the Town of Lyman and shall not hold any other elected or appointed public office in Spartanburg County. Any Planning Commission member whose term has expired shall continue to serve until a replacement shall have been appointed by Town Council.

(Ord. No. 10142019A, 11-11-2019)

The Town Council shall make its initial appointment of planning commission members within ninety (90) days of the adoption of this ordinance. For the initial appointment, two (2) members shall serve for terms of four (4) years, two (2) members shall serve for terms of three (3) years, and one (1) member shall serve for a term of two (2) years. It shall be at the determination of the Mayor as to which initial terms planning commission members are assigned.

It shall be the function of the Planning Commission to prepare and update the town's comprehensive plan and program for the physical social, economic growth of the town in order to promote the public health, safety, morals, convenience, prosperity, or general welfare, as well as the efficiency and economy in the development of the municipality. Specifically, the Planning Commission shall have the authority and responsibility to:

(a)

Prepare and revise periodically a comprehensive plan and program for the development of the town.

(b)

Prepare and recommend for adoption to the Town Council a zoning ordinance (to include text and maps), subdivision regulations, and an official map. The Commission may also prepare a landscape ordinance and capital improvements plan.

(c)

Study and report on other planning, community development, economic development, and land use matters, as assigned by Town Council.

(e)

If a comprehensive plan containing at least a major street element shall have been adopted, and if subdivision regulations shall have been adopted, then the Planning Commission shall have review and approval/disapproval authority over subdivision plats.

The Planning Commission shall organize itself electing one of its members as chairman, one as vice-chairman, and one as secretary, whose terms shall be for one (1) year. Officers may serve an unlimited number of successive terms. The Planning commission shall meet at the call of the chairman and at such times as the chairman or commission may determine. The Planning commission shall adopt Rules of Procedure for the transaction of business and shall keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, findings, and determinations, which record shall be a public record. A majority of the Planning Commission shall constitute a quorum.

The Planning Commission is authorized to spend money or to commit to financial obligations only as budgeted and appropriated by the Town Council. Upon the approval of Town Council, staff or consultants may be employed as it deems necessary to fulfill its responsibilities. It may also purchase equipment and supplies and expend money for conferences or other educational programs or materials. The Planning Commission shall not enter into any contractual agreement obligating the Town of Lyman to any action, except upon the formal approval of the Town Council through the adoption of a resolution or ordinance.