Planning Commission

The Governing Body and Planning Commission shall have all the powers and duties as set forth in K.S.A. 12-741 et seq. and amendments thereto. The Commission is hereby authorized to make or cause to be made, adopted and maintain a comprehensive plan for the city and any unincorporated territory lying outside of the city but within Dickinson and Morris counties, which in the opinion of the commission forms the total community of which the city is a part in accordance with the notice provisions of K.S.A. 12-747(a).

The Commission shall also cause to be prepared, adopted, and maintain zoning and subdivision regulations on all land within the jurisdiction designated by the Governing Body. The comprehensive plan and zoning and subdivision regulations are subject to the final approval of the Governing Body by ordinance. Periodically, the Governing Body may request the commission to undertake other assignments related to planning and land use regulations.

The planning commission is hereby designated to also serve as the city's Board of Zoning Appeals with all the powers and duties as provided for in K.S.A. 12-759. The board shall adopt rules in the form of bylaws for its operation which shall include hearing procedures. Such bylaws shall be subject to the approval of the governing body. Public records shall be kept of all official actions of the board which shall be maintained separately from those of the commission.

The board shall keep minutes of its proceedings showing evidence presented, findings of fact, decisions, and the vote upon each question or appeal. A majority of the members of the board present and voting at the hearing shall be required to decide any appeal. Subject to subsequent approval of the governing body, the board shall establish a scale of reasonable fees to be paid in advance by the appealing party.