§ 415. Planning and zoning commission.

A.

The planning and zoning commission shall consist of seven members, appointed by the board of commissioners to serve for staggered terms; upon appointments of the first planning and zoning commission, two members shall be appointed for three years, three shall be appointed for two years, and two for one year. After the initial terms, each member of the planning and zoning commission shall be appointed for a term of three years. Each member shall serve until their successor has been appointed and taken office. Members shall be eligible to succeed themselves. Any vacancy in the membership shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the initial appointment. Members shall be removed for cause by the board of commissioners based on written charges and after a public hearing. Any member of the planning and zoning commission who does not attend two successive regularly scheduled meetings without reasonable cause shall be deemed to have resigned from the commission and the board of commissioners shall accept nominations and appoint a new member in the same manner as the initial appointment. The amount of compensation to planning and zoning commission members shall be $50.00 per month, or such fee as established by the board of commissioners.

B.

The planning and zoning commission shall elect one of its members as chairperson, who shall serve for one year or until the chairperson is reelected or a successor is elected. The planning and zoning commission shall adopt rules in accordance with this zoning ordinance and state law. Meetings of the planning and zoning commission shall be held at the call of the chairperson and every 30 days or at other times as the planning and zoning commission may determine. The planning and zoning commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question, and shall keep records of its examinations and other official actions, all of which shall be fled, upon official approval in the office of the clerk of the board of commissioners and shall be public record. All meetings and all records of the planning and zoning commission shall comply with O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1 et seq.; O.C.G.A. § 50-18-1 et seq.

C.

The planning and zoning commission shall require the applicant to furnish such information as it deems necessary when filing an application.

D.

It shall be the responsibility of the planning and zoning commission to review and recommend to the board of commissioners, its approval, disapproval, or approval with conditions on all requests for rezoning, map and text interpretations and other amendments submitted to the designated officials or initiated by any other individual or governmental unit.

E.

The planning and zoning commission does not have the power to amend any zoning ordinance, to rezone any land, or to allow any use not permitted by this zoning ordinance.