Municipal Planning Commission
Section 10.4 Planning Commission (MPC)
10.4.1 Membership
Membership of the Walterboro Planning Commission shall be as follows:
A. The Commission shall be composed of five (5) citizens of the City of Walterboro.
B. All members shall be appointed to three-year staggered terms by the City Council, and after that time until their successors are appointed.
C. A vacancy in the membership must be filled for the unexpired term by appointment of the City Council.
D. The City may remove any member of the Commission for cause. The existence of cause shall be discussed by the Council in executive session as permitted by the Freedom of Information Act, SC Code §30-4-70 (a) (1), and the determination of removal shall be by a vote in public session declaring a vacancy in the position without a statement of cause. Any fact, at the discretion of the Council, is deemed to adversely affect the public interest, including lack of attendance at meetings, may constitute cause.
E. None of the members shall hold any elected public office or position in the City or Colleton County.
10.4.2 Procedures
Procedures of the Walterboro Planning Commission shall be as follows:
A. The Commission shall elect one of its members chairman, who shall serve for two years or until (s)he is re-elected or his successor is elected and qualified.
B. The Commission shall appoint a secretary who may be an officer of the City.
C. The Commission shall adopt rules of procedure in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance.
D. Meetings of the Commission must be held at least once per month unless there is no business before it.
E. Meetings may be held at the call of the chairman and at such other times as the Commission may determine.
F. Public notice of all meetings of the Commission shall be provided to interested citizens.
G. The Commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question, or if absent or failing to vote, indicating that fact, and shall keep records of its examinations and other official actions, all of which must be immediately filed in the office of the Commission and must be a public record.
10.4.3 Powers & Duties
The Planning Commission prepares and periodically makes recommendations of revision to the City of Walterboro Comprehensive Plan, as well as all development plans and programs for the City and all implementation measures required to carry out the goals of the Comprehensive Plan, including:
1. The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) includes zoning, subdivision, land development, and historic preservation regulations.
2. The Official Zoning Map.
3. The Capital Improvements Program. the Commission shall catalog public improvements needed in the City, place them in a logical chronological order, and rank them. An annual list of priority projects should be forwarded to the City Council.
4. Design waivers in accordance with Section 11.4.