Subject:
Title
Resolution on Planning Commission Membership-Number of Members
Body
EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY:
The Town of Vienna Planning Commission currently consists of nine members who are appointed by Town Council.
The Code of Virginia, ? 15.2-2212. Qualifications, appointment, removal, terms and compensation of members of local planning commissions, states that "[a] local planning commission shall consist of not less than five nor more than fifteen members, appointed by the governing body, all of whom shall be residents of the locality, qualified by knowledge and experience to make decisions on questions of community growth and development; provided, that at least one-half of the members so appointed shall be owners of real property."
For comparison purposes, in similarly sized jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, the composition of the Planning Commission mimics that of the governing body. The governing bodies of the Cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, and the Towns of Herndon and Leesburg all consist of a Mayor and six Council Members and the Planning Commission membership of all four of those jurisdictions consists of seven members.
The Town Council, in 1970 set the number of Commissioners to nine (9).
Strategic Plan Initiative: Vienna is an influential and well-governed community.
Board or Commission of Interest: Planning Commission
Departmental Recommendation: Staff recommends Town Council set the Planning Commission membership to seven members.
Finance Recommendation:
Purchasing Recommendation:
Town Attorney Recommendation: Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 15.2210, the Town Council may set the number of Commissioners by resolution or ordinance. The Town Council may set the number of Commissioners between five (5) nor more than fifteen (15) members in its discretion.
Town Manager's Recommendation: I recommend the Town Council adopt a resolution changing the membership of the Planning Commission from nine to seven members, as presen...
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