There is hereby established a Planning and Zoning Commission that shall assume jurisdiction of all matters assigned to the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Planning Commission, or the Zoning Committee. Any reference in this title or in the entire Village Code Book to the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Planning Commission, or the Zoning Committee shall mean the Planning and Zoning Commission as established in this section.

(Ord. 2012-012, 3-13-2012)

The Planning and Zoning Commission shall be composed of seven members, all of whom shall reside within the Village. The Commission members shall be appointed by the Village President, with the advice and consent of the Board of Trustees. One of the members appointed shall be named as chairperson at the time of his appointment. In the performance of its duties, the Commission may incur such expenditures as shall be authorized by the corporate authorities. Each member of the Commission shall receive for their services such compensation, if any, as is determined from time to time by the corporate authorities.

(Ord. 2012-012, 3-13-2012)

Each member of the Commission will serve respectively for the following terms and until a successor has been appointed: one for one year, one for two years, one for three years, one for four years, one for five years, one for six years, and one for seven years; the successor to each member appointed shall serve for a term of five years. Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled for the unexpired term of the member whose place has become vacant in the same manner as providing for the appointment of new members. The Village President shall have the power to remove any member of the Commission for cause subject to the provisions set forth in Section 3.1-35-10 of the Illinois Municipal Code, 65 ILCS 5/11-3.1-35-10.

(Ord. 2012-012, 3-13-2012)

Meetings of the Commission shall be held at the call of the chairperson and at such other times as the Commission may determine. At their first meeting, the Commission shall elect a vice-chairperson and a person to keep a record of its proceedings. All meetings of the Commission shall be held at the Village Hall location and shall be open to the public in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. The chairperson or, in his or her absence, the vice-chairperson may administer oaths and compel attendance of witnesses. The presence of at least four members of the Commission shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of at least four members shall be required to approve or recommend any action to the Village Board.

(Ord. 2012-012, 3-13-2012)

The Commission may adopt its own rules of procedures consistent with this title and applicable state statutes. The Commission shall keep a record of its own proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question, or, if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact, and shall also keep records of its hearings and other official actions. Findings of fact shall be included in the minutes of each case of a requested variance, special use, or appeal, and the reasons for approving or denying such variation, special use, or appeal shall be specified. All records of proceedings, findings, determinations and actions of the Commission shall be filed immediately in the office of the corporate authorities and shall be a public record.

(Ord. 2012-012, 3-13-2012)

The duties of the Commission are as follows:

A.

To prepare and recommend to the corporate authorities a comprehensive plan of public improvements looking to the present and future development of the Village. After its adoption by the Village Board, this plan shall be known as the official plan of the Village. Thereafter, from time to time, the Commission may recommend changes in the official plan. This plan may include reasonable requirements with reference to the streets, alleys, and public grounds in un-subdivided land situated within the corporate limits or in contiguous territory not more than one and one-half miles beyond the corporate limits and not included in any municipality. These requirements shall be effective whenever this un-subdivided land is subdivided after the adoption of the official plan.

Following the adoption of the official plan, no map or plat of any subdivision presented for recording affecting land (a) within the corporate limits of the Village or (b) within contiguous territory which is not more than one and one-half miles beyond the corporate limits of the Village, shall be entitled to be recorded unless in accordance with the provisions of 65 ILCS 5/11-12-12.

B.

To prepare and recommend to the corporate authorities, from time to time, plans for specific improvements in the pursuance of the Comprehensive Plan.

C.

To give aid to the Village officials charged with the direction of projects for improvements embraced within the official plan and to further the making of these projects, and generally promote the Comprehensive Plan.

D.

To exercise such other powers germane to the powers granted by this Code as may be conferred by the Village, and are granted a village under the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS), including, but not limited to sections 5/11-12-1 to 5/11-12-12.

E.

To hear appeals from any order, requirement, decision or determination of the Building Official, relating to the Village Zoning Ordinance by any person, firm or corporation aggrieved thereby, or by any officer, department, board or commission of the Village.

F.

To consider and act upon all requests for all applications for variations from the strict enforcement of any provision of the Village Zoning Ordinance, pursuant to Section 8-5-6 of the Village Zoning Ordinance, in accordance with the rules and standards set forth therein.

G.

To recommend to the corporate authorities, after holding a public hearing, on applications for special uses listed in each of the several zoning districts.

H.

To recommend to the corporate authorities, after holding a public hearing, on applications for planned community developments and to hear and decide other matters referred to it or upon which it is required to pass under the provisions of the Village Zoning Ordinance Code.

I.

To recommend to the corporate authorities, after holding a public hearing, on petitions for amendment of the provisions of the Village Zoning Ordinance and the boundary lines of zoning districts established therein.

J.

To transmit to the corporate authorities, with every recommendation, findings of fact and to refer to any exhibits containing plans and specifications relating to its recommendation, which plans and specifications shall remain a part of the permanent records of the Commission. The findings of facts shall specify the reason or reasons for its recommendation. The terms of the relief recommended shall be specifically set forth in a conclusion or statement separate from the findings of fact of the Commission.

K.

To file immediately in the office of the Village Clerk every rule, order, requirement, decision or determination of the commission after any meeting or hearing, which shall be a public record.

L.

To perform additional duties as outlined in the Village Zoning Ordinance, the Village Municipal Code or Illinois State Statutes.

M.

To exercise all of the duties and powers granted to and required of the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Commission referenced elsewhere in the Village Municipal Code or Illinois State Statutes.

Nothing contained herein shall be construed to authorize the Commission to change any of the provisions of the Village Code or Village boundary lines established hereby. The presence of at least four members of the Commission shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of at least four members shall be required to approve or recommend any action to the Village Board.

(Ord. 2012-012, 3-13-2012)