SUBJECT:
Title
Discussion of Planning Commission Roles and Responsibilities
Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning & Development
Presenter
PRESENTER(S): Sarah Nurmela, Planning and Development Director
Kelly Driscoll, Planning Manager
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Time
TIME ESTIMATE: 20 minutes
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For time estimate: please put 0 for Consent items.
Fiscal
FISCAL SUMMARY:
Cost as Recommended: N/A
Balance Available: N/A
Fund Choose a fund.
Line Item Number: N/A
New Appropriation Required: No
Policy
POLICY ISSUES:
At the August 20, 2025, meeting Planning Commission requested an item be placed on the next agenda to discuss their roles and responsibilities.
Recommendation
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Discussion item only.
Body
SUMMARY/KEY POINTS
* Planning Commission is an Advisory Board to the Town Council, as specified in Title 3, Chapter 1 of the Municipal Code.
* Duties and functions of the Commission are set forth by State statutes and by the Unified Development Code
BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
Planning Commissions play an advisory role to the governing body (Town Council) in the legislative process. This means that for proposed amendments to the Unified Development Code, the Planning Commission makes recommendations to the Council.
For Quasi-Judicial items, the Planning Commission assures that all land use decisions, including individual projects, are consistent with the policies and plans adopted by the governing body. Specifically, Erie's Planning Commission advises the Town Council on zoning (rezonings, Planned Developments), Special Review Uses (SRU), and Preliminary and Final Plats. Planning Commission is the final decision maker on Site Plans with over 25,000 square feet. See Attachment 1 for Table 7.1-1 from the UDC which gives an overview of roles and their relationship to application types and proceedings.
As additional background for this discussion, Attachment 2 is Resolution No. 22-149 adopting rules of procedure for the Plannin...
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