§ 12.03.03. Planning board.

A.

Establishment and composition. A planning board is hereby established, which shall consist of seven members to be appointed by the board of county commissioners, each for a term of three years. Prior to March 1, 1995, the board of county commissioners shall appoint three members who shall serve for a term of three years; shall appoint two members who shall serve for a term of two years; and shall appoint two members and an alternate who shall serve for a term of one year. Subsequent appointments or reappointments shall be for a term of three years.

B.

Powers and duties. The functions, powers, and duties of the planning board in general shall be:

1.

To acquire and maintain such information and materials as are necessary to an understanding of past trends, present conditions, and forces at work to cause changes in these conditions. Such information and material may include maps and photographs of manmade and natural physical features of the county, statistics on past trends and present conditions with respect to populations, property values, economic base, land use and such other information as is important or likely to be important in determining the amount, direction, and kind of development to be expected in the county.

2.

To prepare and recommend to the board of county commissioners for adoption, and from time to time recommend amendment or revision, of a comprehensive and coordinated general plan for meeting present requirements and such future requirements as may be foreseen.

3.

To establish principles and policies for guiding action affecting development in the county.

4.

To prepare and recommend to the board of county commissioners ordinances, regulations, and other proposals promoting orderly development along the lines indicated as desirable by the comprehensive plan.

5.

To determine whether specific proposed developments conform to the principles and requirements of the comprehensive plan and this code and recommend to the board of county commissioners.

6.

To conduct such public hearings as may be required to gather information necessary for the drafting, establishment, and maintenance of the comprehensive plan and ordinances, codes, and regulations related to it, and to establish public committees when deemed necessary for the purpose of collecting and compiling information necessary for the plan, or for the purpose of promoting the accomplishment of the plan in whole or in part.

7.

To make or cause to be made any necessary special studies on the location, adequacy, and conditions of specific facilities in the county. These may include but are not limited to studies on housing, agriculture, commercial and industrial conditions and facilities, recreation, public and private utilities, roads and traffic, and the like.

8.

To keep the board of county commissioners and the public informed and advised on these matters.

9.

To perform such other duties as may be lawfully assigned to it, or which may have bearing on the preparation, implementation or amendment of the comprehensive plan.

10.

Pursuant to and in accordance with the Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act, F.S. ch. 163, part II, the planning board is hereby designated as the local planning agency for the county and shall perform the functions and duties as prescribed in the act.

11.

The board shall review redevelopment plans prepared under F.S. ch. 163, part III.

C.

Planning assistance. All county employees shall, upon request and within a reasonable time, furnish to the planning board or its employees or agents such available records or information as may be required in its work. The planning board, or its employees or agents, may in the performance of official duties enter upon lands and make examinations or surveys in the same manner as other authorized county agents or employees, and shall have such other powers as are required for the performance of official functions in carrying out the purposes of the planning board.

(Ord. No. 94-8, § 1 (12.03.03), 10-5-94)