Title 15 - Article II

Pursuant to the authority conferred by the Colorado Revised Statutes, 1973, as amended, there is created a Planning Commission for the Town of Rangely. The Commission shall have all of the powers and perform each and all of the duties specified by the statutes, as amended, together with any other powers and duties, which are conferred, or may be conferred hereafter by local regulation or municipal ordinance.

31.1. The Planning Commission shall consist of seven (7) members. The duties and charge of the Planning Commission shall be executive administration of Title 15 of the Rangely Municipal Code, and other relevant Rangely Municipal Code related considerations, in a manner consistent with the Colorado State Statutes. Members shall be chosen from areas distributed throughout the Town of Rangely so the entire geographic area is represented as best as possible. All members of the Planning Commission shall be bona fide residents of the Town of Rangely, and, if any member ceases to reside in the town, his membership shall immediately terminate. No member of the Commission shall hold any municipal office of profit.

31.2. Planning Commission members shall be appointed by the Town Council for two-year terms, but members may continue to serve until their successors have been appointed. Vacancies will be filled for the unexpired terms only.

31.3. Members may be appointed to successive terms without limitation.

31.4. Planning Commission members may be removed by the Town Council at any time for failure to attend three (3) consecutive meetings or for failure to attend 30 percent or more of the meetings within any 12-month period or for any other good cause related to performance of duties. Upon request of the member proposed for removal, the Town Council shall hold a hearing on the removal before it becomes effective.

32.1. The Planning Commission shall meet regularly and shall meet frequently enough so as to take action on applications and process administrative and business matters expeditiously.

32.2. Since the Planning Commission is a decision-making body it must conduct its meetings strictly in accordance with the quasi-judicial procedures set forth in this Title. However, it shall conduct its meetings so as to obtain necessary information and to promote the full and free exchange of ideas.

32.3. Minutes shall be kept of all Commission proceedings. Action minutes are permissible.

32.4. All Commission meetings shall be open to the public, and whenever feasible the agenda for each Commission meeting shall be made available in advance of the meeting.

32.5. Whenever the Planning Commission is called upon to make recommendations concerning a conditional-use permit, special-use permit, zoning or rezoning request, or subdivision request the planning staff shall publish, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, a notice of said public hearing fifteen days prior to the hearing. Written notice of the hearing shall also be mailed to adjoining property owners and others who may have a reasonable and practicable interest.

33.1. A quorum for the Planning Commission shall consist of three (3) or more members of the Commission membership. A quorum is necessary for the Commission to take official action.

33.2. All actions of the Planning Commission shall be based on a majority vote of the quorum being present.

33.3. A roll call vote shall be taken upon the request of any member.

33.4. Members may vote on all matters considered by the Commission, regardless of where the property affected lies within the Town.

33.5. A member who withdraws from a meeting, without being excused, that results in a loss of a quorum, shall be counted as present for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present.

34.1. At its first meeting in January of each year the Planning Commission shall, by majority vote of its membership (excluding vacant seats) elect one of its members to serve as chairman and preside over the Commission's meetings and one member to serve as vice-chairman. The people so designated shall serve in these capacities for terms of one (1) year. Vacancies in these offices may be filled for the unexpired terms only by majority vote of the Commission membership (excluding vacant seats).

34.2. The chairman and vice-chairman may take part in all deliberations and vote on all issues.

35.1. The Planning Commission may:

• 35.1.1. Make studies and recommend to the Town Council approvals for subdivisions, agreements, permits, plans, goals, and objectives relating to the growth, development, and redevelopment of the Town and County and changes to the Comprehensive Plan.
• 35.1.2. Develop and recommend to the Town Council policies, resolutions, ordinances, administrative procedures, and other means for carrying out plans in a coordinated and efficient manner.
• 35.1.3. Perform any other duties assigned by the Town Council.

35.2. The Planning Commission may adopt rules and regulations governing its procedures and operations consistent with the provisions of this Title.

36.1. From time to time, the Town Council may appoint one or more individuals to help the Planning Commission carry out its planning responsibilities with respect to a particular subject area. By way of illustration, without limitation, the Town Council may appoint advisory committees to consider plans such as thoroughfare plans, bikeway plans, housing plans, economic development plans, etc.

36.2. Members of such advisory committees shall sit as nonvoting members of the Planning Commission when such issues are being considered and lend their talents, energies, and expertise to the Planning Commission. However, all formal actions taken, or recommendations to the Town Council shall be made by the Planning Commission.

36.3. Nothing in this section shall prevent the Town Council from establishing independent advisory groups, committees, or commissions to make recommendations on any issue. Section 37-39 Reserved

40.1. The Board of Adjustment shall consist of the Town Council.

40.2. Board of Adjustment members shall hold terms as applies to their office.

41.1. The Board of Adjustment shall meet as frequently as needed and often enough so as to take action in conformity with Section (Applications to be Processed Expeditiously).

41.2. The Board shall conduct its meetings in accordance with the quasi-judicial procedures set forth in Articles of this Title.

41.3. All meetings of the Board shall be open to the public, and whenever feasible the agenda for each Board meeting shall be made available in advance of the meeting.

42.1. A quorum of the Board of Adjustment shall consist of the number of members equal to four-sevenths of the regular Board membership. A quorum is necessary for the Board to take official action.

42.2. A member who withdraws from a meeting, without being excused, that results in a loss of a quorum, shall be counted as present for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present.

The concurring vote of four-sevenths of the Board membership shall be necessary to reverse any order, requirement, decision, or determination of the Planning Commission or staff or to decide in favor of the applicant any matter upon which it is required to pass including the issuance of a permit.

44.1. Officers will be the same as those established for the Town Council.

44.2. The mayor or any member temporarily acting as mayor may administer oaths to witnesses coming before the Board.

44.3. The mayor may take part in all deliberations and vote on all issues.

45.1. The Board of Adjustment shall hear and decide:

• 45.1.1. Appeals from any order, decision, requirement, or interpretation made by the administrator or the Planning Commission, as provided in Appeal(s) of this Code.
• 45.1.2. Questions involving interpretations of the process and performance standard requirements, as provided in Section(s) on Interpretations.
• 45.1.3. Any other matter the Board is required to act upon by any other Town Code or issue.

45.2. The Board may adopt rules and regulations governing its procedures and operations consistent with the provisions of this Code.

Except as otherwise specifically provided, primary responsibility for administering and enforcing this Title is assigned to the Town Manager who shall appoint individuals with reasonable understanding of the issues to be administered to see that this Title is followed throughout the Town. The persons, and the final staff authority of the Town Manager to whom these functions are assigned, shall be referred to in this Title as the "Land Use administrators" or "administrators” and the term “staff” or “planning staff”, “Town staff” can be used interchangeably with the term "administrators."

Reserved