In order that adequate provisions be made for the preparation of a comprehensive city plan for the guidance, direction and control of the growth and development of the City of Vandalia and contiguous territory not more than one and one-half (1½)miles beyond the corporate limits and not included in any municipality, a Planning Commission, is hereby created under authority of the Illinois Municipal Code, Article 11, Division 12.

(Ord. No. 1997-6-16-D, Art. 13(13.1), 6-16-1997)

The Planning Commission shall consist of nine (9) members, seven (7) of whom shall be residents and citizens of the City of Vandalia, two of whom may be either person residing within one and one-half (1½) miles beyond the corporate limits of the City of Vandalia and thereby residents of the area controlled by the City of Vandalia Zoning Ordinance, or residents and citizens of the City of Vandalia, appointed by the Mayor, by and with the approval of the City Council, upon the basis of their personal fitness for such duty and responsibility.

(Ord. No. 1997-6-16-D, Art. 13(13.2), 6-16-1997)

Of the nine (9) members, three (3) shall serve for a period of three (3) years, three (3) for a period of two (2) years, and three (3) for a period of one (1) year. Thereafter, such members shall serve for a period of three (3) years. Vacancies shall be filled by appointments for unexpired terms only. All members of the Commission shall serve without compensation except that, if the City Council deems it advisable, they may receive such compensation as may be fixed from time to time by the City Council and provided for in the appropriation ordinance.

(Ord. No. 1997-6-16-D, Art. 13(13.3), 6-16-1997)

Immediately following their appointment, the members of the Planning Commission shall meet, organize, elect such officers as it may deem necessary, and adopt and later change or alter, rules and regulations or organization and procedure consistent with city ordinances and state laws. The Commission shall keep written records of its proceedings, which shall be open at all times to public inspection. The Commission shall also file an annual report with the Mayor, and City Council, setting forth its transactions and recommendations.

(Ord. No. 1997-6-16-D, Art. 13(13.4), 6-16-1997)

The Planning Commission shall have the following powers and duties.

(a)

To prepare and recommend to the City Council of Vandalia a comprehensive plan for the present and future development or redevelopment of the city and contiguous unincorporated territory not more than one and one-half (1½) miles beyond the corporate limits of the City and not included in any other municipality. Such plan may be adopted in whole or in separate geographical or functional parts, each of which, when adopted shall be the official comprehensive plan, or part thereof, of Vandalia. Such plan shall be advisory, except as to such part thereof as has been implemented by ordinances duly enacted by the City Council. All requirements for public hearing, filing of notices of adoption with the County Recorder of Deeds, and filing of said plan and ordinances with the City Clerk shall be complied with as provided for by law.

To provide for the health, safety, comfort and convenience of the inhabitants of Vandalia and contiguous territory, such plan or plans shall establish reasonable standards of design for subdivisions and for re-subdivisions of unimproved land and of area subject to redevelopment in respect to public improvements as herein defined and shall establish reasonable requirements governing the location, width, course, and surfacing of public streets and highways, alleys, ways for public service facilities, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, street lights, parks, playgrounds, school grounds, size of lots to be used for residential purposes, storm water drainage, water supply and distribution, sanitary sewers, and sewage collection and treatment. The requirements specified herein shall become regulatory only when adopted by ordinance.

(b)

To designate land suitable for annexation to the municipality and the recommended zoning classification for such land upon annexation.

(c)

To recommend to the City Council of Vandalia from time to time, such changes in the comprehensive plan or any part thereof as may be deemed necessary.

(d)

To prepare and recommend to the City Council from time to time, plans and/or recommendations for specific improvements in pursuance of the official comprehensive plan.

(e)

To give aid to the officials of the City of Vandalia, charged with the direction of projects for improvements embraced within the official comprehensive plan.

(f)

To arrange and conduct any form of publicity relative to its activities for the general purpose of public understanding.

(g)

To cooperate with municipal or regional planning commissions and other agencies or groups to further the local planning program and to assure harmonious and integrated planning for the area.

(h)

To exercise such other powers germane to the powers granted under authority of the Illinois Municipal Code, Article 11, Division 12.

(Ord. No. 1997-6-16-D, Art. 13(13.5), 6-16-1997)

At any time or times, before or after the formal adoption of the official comprehensive plan by the corporate authorities, an official map may be designated by ordinance, which may consist of the whole area included within the official comprehensive plan or one (1) or more separate geographical orfunctional parts, and may include all or any part of the contiguous unincorporated area within one and one-half (1½) miles from the corporate limits of the City of Vandalia. All requirements for public hearing, filing of said plan and ordinances including the official map with the City Clerk shall be complied with as provided for by law.

No map or plat of any subdivision or Re-subdivision presented for record, affecting land within the corporate limits of the City of Vandalia, or within contiguous territory which is not more than one and one-half (1½) miles beyond the corporate limits, shall be entitled to record or shall be valid unless the subdivision shown thereon provides for standards of design, and standard governing streets, alleys, public ways, ways for public service facilities, street lights, public grounds, size of lots to be used for residential purposes, storm and flood water run-off channels and basin, water supply and distribution, sanitary sewers and sewage collection and treatment, in conformity with the applicable requirements of the ordinances including the official map.

(Ord. No. 1997-6-16-D, Art. 13(13.6), 6-16-1997)

The City Clerk shall furnish the Planning Commission for its consideration a copy of all ordinances, plans and data relative to public improvements of any nature. The Planning Commission may report in relation thereto if it deems a report necessary or advisable, for the consideration of the City Council.

(Ord. No. 1997-6-16-D, Art. 13(13.7), 6-16-1997)

The Commission may at the discretion of the City Council employ a paid secretary, or staff, or both whose salaries, wages, and other necessary expenses shall be provided for by adequate appropriation made by the City Council from the public funds.

If said Planning Commission shall deem it advisable to secure technical advice or services, it may be done upon authority from the City Council and appropriations by the City Council therefore.

(Ord. No. 1997-6-16-D, Art. 13(13.8), 6-16-1997)

(a)

The Comprehensive Plan as recommended by the City Planning Commission is adopted in its entirety.

(b)

A copy of the Comprehensive Plan as adopted by this section is specifically incorporated herein by reference the same as if it were set forth at length herein.

(c)

The Official Map identified as Plate 13 in the Comprehensive Plan adopted herein is adopted as the Official Map of the City of Vandalia as it appears as Plate 13 in the Comprehensive Plan and as it appears on display in the office of the City Clerk.

(d)

This Comprehensive Plan shall become effective on the expiration of ten (10) days after the date of filing notice of its adoption with the County Recorder of Deeds.

The City Council may from time to time, on its own motion or on petition, amend, supplement, change, modify, or repeal by ordinance the boundaries of districts or regulations, or restrictions herein established.

(Ord. No. 1997-6-16-D, Art. 13(13.9), 6-16-1997)