To make decisions on zoning map and text amendments;

To make decisions on conditional uses;

To make decisions on special use permits;

To make decisions on planned unit developments;

To make decisions on preliminary and final plats;

To make decisions on vacations of streets or reservations; and

To decide appeals on site plan reviews.

The Planning and Zoning Commission shall be composed of two (2) citizen members from each ward who have been appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of a majority of the City Council; the Mayor, if the Mayor chooses to be a member; and a member of the City Council selected by the City Council, if the Council chooses to have a member serve on the Commission.

If a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission shall move to another ward during the time of his/her term, or if a change in ward boundary lines places the member in a different ward than the ward he/she was initially appointed from, he/she shall serve until a suitable replacement from the ward in question is found or until the completion of their term if a suitable replacement is not found.

In the event no candidates from the requisite ward may be found or volunteer to fill a vacant position, then the Mayor, with the advice and consent of a majority of the City Council, may fill the vacancy with an appointment from the citizens at large.

During a meeting in April of each year, the Council shall designate whether or not it shall have a member serve on the Commission and the Mayor shall designate if he/she chooses to be a member of the Commission and any such member shall serve for a term of one (1) year.

The term of each of the citizen members is four (4) years.

The term of each citizen member begins November first of each year.

At its first November meeting, or the first meeting after November if no meeting is held in November, the Commission must annually elect one (1) of its citizen members to act as Chair, another of its members to act as Vice-Chair, and another of its members to act as Secretary. The terms are for one (1) year with eligibility for re-election.

All citizen members of the Commission will serve without compensation.

A Commissioner shall be deemed to be neglecting their duty if they fail to attend three (3) consecutive regular scheduled meetings of the Commission or more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the Commission’s regular scheduled meetings during any twelve-month period without being excused. The Commission may make a recommendation to the Mayor requesting the removal and replacement of a Commission member that is negligent in their duties for their remaining unexpired term as indicated in this Section. The Mayor may, with consent of the City Council, remove a member from the Commission for misconduct or neglect of duty.

The Planning and Zoning Commission meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month in the City Hall.

All meetings are open to the public, except as permitted by law.

The Commission must keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question, as well as any members that are absent. The records of the Commission proceedings and actions must be immediately filed in the office of the City Clerk and these will be a public record.

The powers and duties as authorized by Sections 89.300 through 89.491 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, as amended;

To hold public hearings and make recommendations on zoning map and text amendments;

To hold public hearings and make recommendations on conditional uses;

To hold public hearings and make recommendations on planned unit developments;

To hold public hearings and make recommendations on preliminary plats;

To hold public hearings and make recommendations on easement and right-of-way vacations;

To make recommendations on final plats;

To hear appeals from certain subdivision requirements;

To make decisions on site plan reviews;

To make recommendations on special use permits;

To place reasonable conditions upon approval;

To plan for the future development of the City by preparing the City Growth Management Plan, including an annual review and update;

To hold public hearings and consider adoption of special plans, including corridor studies and neighborhood plans;

To request City Staff to conduct research on planning issues and questions and provide any necessary reports;

To study and propose plans and ordinances that would improve the public health, safety or general welfare of the citizens of Raymore;

To consider all public comments and testimony provided at public hearings during its deliberations of a development application;

To represent the citizenry of the City of Raymore when reviewing development applications; and

To protect the public health, safety and welfare from any potential impacts of new development.

The term of each of the members is five (5) years.

At its November meeting, or the first meeting after November if no meeting is held in November, the Board must annually elect one (1) of its members to act as Chair, another as Vice-Chair, and another of its members to act as Secretary. The terms are for one (1) year with eligibility for re-election.

Alternate members will serve in the order of their appointment in the event a member(s) of the Board of Adjustment is not able to participate in a meeting due to absence or disqualification. If an alternate member begins as a member of the Board for a particular case, they must serve as a member of the Board until the case is concluded, even if the case is continued.

All members of the Board will serve without compensation.

The City Council may remove any member only for cause stated in writing and after public hearing. The Mayor may, with the advice and consent of a majority of the City Council, remove any member for misconduct or neglect of duty. A member’s unexcused absence from three (3) consecutive regular meetings in a twelve-month period constitutes neglect of duty.

Meetings of the Board will be held at the call of the Chair and at such other times as the Board may determine necessary. The Board must conduct a meeting on all requested appeals or variances within sixty (60) days of submission of a completed application.

All meetings of the Board are open to the public.

The Chair, or in his/her absence the Acting Chair, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses.

The Board must keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question, as well as any members that are absent. The records of the Commission proceedings and actions must be immediately filed in the office of the City Clerk and these will be a public record.

Unless otherwise specifically stated, to hear and make decisions on variances from the specific terms of this Code; and

Unless otherwise specifically stated, to hear and decide appeals of decisions of the Development Services Director, or any other official charged with making administrative decisions, interpreting, or enforcing the Unified Development Code.

To enforce the Unified Development Code;

To approve and issue all zoning and occupancy certificates and make and maintain records thereof;

To conduct inspections of buildings, structures and uses of land to determine compliance with the provisions of the Unified Development Code;

To approve site plans according to Section 470.160D.1.;

To render interpretations of the Unified Development Code;

To schedule meetings of the Development Review Committee, as needed;

To receive, file and transmit applications for site plans, preliminary and final plats, rezonings, PUDs, variances, conditional use permits, special uses, inflatable sign permits and vacations as designated in the Unified Development Code;

To maintain permanent and current records of the Unified Development Code, including but not limited to, all zoning text and map amendments, conditional uses, plats, variances, appeals and other development review applications;

To maintain and update the Unified Development Code, on or before March 31st of each year, for distribution to the public. This includes the following:

To provide such clerical, technical and consulting assistance as may be required by the Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment and other boards, commissions and officials in the exercise of their duties relating to the Unified Development Code; and

To maintain the rules of the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment.

To make recommendations on preliminary and final plats;

To make recommendations on vacations of streets or reservations;

To make recommendations that adequate public facilities have been provided;

To make decisions on floodplain development permits; and

To advise the City Council when public improvements are ready for acceptance.

To review and provide input on site plans, zoning map amendments, conditional uses, special uses, planned developments, preliminary plats, final plats, and

To review and provide input on other applications, when requested by the Development Services Director.