18.30.040 Planning commission.
The borough planning commission (“planning commission”) is an empowered board and consists of seven registered voters who have resided in the borough at least one year immediately preceding the date of election to the planning commission and as described in HBC 11.24.010(A)(2) applicable to candidates for elected office. Planning commission members shall serve staggered terms of three years. Vacancies on the commission shall be determined by the commission under the same regulations as HBC 2.10.240 and 2.10.250, guidelines for vacancies of the borough assembly, and shall be filled only for the unexpired portion of the term. Planning commissioners may be removed pursuant to the provisions of HBC 2.10.260.
A. The commission shall annually, after each general election of the borough, elect a chair who has the ability to vote on any question and is considered as part of a constituted quorum and such other officers as it deems necessary or desirable in the discharge of its powers and duties.
B. No action shall be taken by the commission except where a duly authorized quorum exists at a properly noticed public meeting. Four affirmative votes are required for the passage of any motion, excepting the provisions for filling of vacancy as provided in HBC 2.10.250.
C. The commission shall meet on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., or at another regularly scheduled time as determined by a majority vote of the commission, or upon call of the chair. An agenda shall be prepared in packet form for each meeting and provided to the commissioners and the public five calendar days in advance of the meeting. The agenda shall state the name of the Haines planning commission, the time, date and place of the meeting and a list of all agenda items. The agenda shall give a brief description of each item to be addressed, proposed development or other activity and state the action requested of the planning commission. The agenda shall be publicly posted in the same locations and manner as those for the assembly meetings.
D. The commission shall keep a permanent record of its meetings in the form of meeting minutes, and the manager shall provide secretarial and other assistance to the commission to assist in this duty. The minutes of the meetings shall be copied and placed in the packets of the borough assembly members for their next regularly scheduled meeting. Minutes and records shall be filed with borough clerk and retained as public records.
E. The commission shall conduct its activities within the requirements of Chapter 2.60 HBC, Committees, Boards and Commissions, unless specifically superseded by a section under this chapter.
F. The commission shall make such other rules and regulations governing the conduct of its business as it deems necessary or desirable.
G. The commission may prepare and make recommendations to the borough assembly for amendments to this title.
H. The commission shall review annually the capital improvements program of the borough and submit its recommendations thereon to the borough assembly. The manager shall submit the capital improvements program to the commission in a reasonable period in advance of the fiscal year.
I. State and Borough Project Review.
1. Borough Project Review. The commission shall review and report to the borough assembly regarding the location, design, construction, demolition or disposition of any public building, facility, collector or arterial street, park, green belt, playground or borough projects. The report and recommendation of the commission shall be based upon the comprehensive plan and the capital improvements program. Routine maintenance shall be exempt from this requirement. Plans for the construction of new borough facilities with a value over $25,000 shall come to the commission for review and a public hearing at the conceptual stage of design. At that time, the commission shall decide whether additional public hearings and design review are required at the 35 percent, 65 percent, and 95 percent stages of design.
2. State Project Review. The commission shall review proposed Alaska State projects for consistency with this title and the comprehensive plan pursuant to AS 35.30 and may impose conditions on and modifications to such projects. If the commission approves, or approves with conditions or modifications, a notice of decision shall be issued. If the commission disapproves, a notice of recommendation shall be forwarded to the state for further action. A notice of decision becomes final 90 days from the date the project was submitted.
J. The commission shall report to the borough assembly on all preliminary and final plats the commission has processed as the platting authority (see Chapter 18.100 HBC).
K. A comprehensive plan is a compilation of policy statements and maps for guiding the physical, social and economic development, both private and public, of the borough, and may include, but is not limited to, the following: statements of policies, goals, standards, a land use plan, a lands classification plan and requirements for disposal of borough lands, a community facilities plan, a transportation plan, and recommendations for plan implementations. The assembly shall be guided in the adoption of the comprehensive plan by the recommendations of the planning commission. The assembly may modify the plan, provided it first obtains the recommendations of the planning commission. The planning commission shall undertake the overall review of the plan at least once every six years and shall present recommendations based on the review to the assembly. (Ord. 23-05-643 § 5; Ord. 23-02-638 § 5; Ord. 23-01-634 § 4; Ord. 19-02-524 § 4; Ord. 18-04-494 § 5; Ord. 17-01-449 § 4; Ord. 16-10-446 § 4; Ord. 16-01-429 § 4; Ord. 14-01-363 § 13; Ord. 06-06-145)