Lancaster Municipal Code Ch. 2.24 Planning Commission

There is created a planning commission for the city composed of at least five and not to exceed seven commissioners who shall be residents of the city and selected in a manner to provide representation from the entire city. These commissioners shall be appointed by the city council of the city and shall serve with compensation to be established by the city council. No commissioner shall be a member of the Lancaster city council. In the selection of any commissioner to the planning commission, the city council may take into consideration a candidate's community service and compatibility with other commissioners.

(Ord. 899 § 2 (Exh. A (part)), 2008)

The planning commission is vested with the duty of making decisions on conditional use permits, tentative tract/parcel maps and other land use applications, advising city council on general plan amendments, zoning changes and zoning code amendments, and other duties as authorized, delegated and/or instructed by the city council.

(Ord. 899 § 2 (Exh. A (part)), 2008)

(Ord. No. 998, § 4, 6-24-2014)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 998, § 4, adopted June 24, 2014, amended the title of § 2.24.020 to read as set out herein. Previously § 2.24.020 was titled administration and enforcement.

All commissioners of the planning commission shall be appointed by the mayor, subject to approval of a majority of the city council. Each commissioner's term shall be concurrent with the term of the appointing mayor and shall be automatically extended in the event the appointing mayor is re-elected as mayor. Nothing contained in this section is intended to preclude the reappointment of any planning commissioner upon the expiration of his or her term and all commissioners of the planning commission shall serve at the will of the mayor and city council.

(Ord. 899 § 2 (Exh. A (part)), 2008)

The commissioners of the Lancaster planning commission shall, by election, select their own chairman to preside over their meetings, and their own vice-chairman, to preside in the absence of the chairman.

(Ord. 899 § 2 (Exh. A (part)), 2008)

Any vacancy occurring on the planning commission shall be filled by an appointment made by the mayor, subject to approval of a majority of the city council. Any person appointed to fill such vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the term of the commissioner whose office has been vacated.

(Ord. 899 § 2 (Exh. A (part)), 2008)

Whenever, in the opinion of the mayor or upon a vote of a majority of the city council, the best interests of the city shall be served thereby, any commissioner of the planning commission may be removed from office by the mayor or by a majority vote of the city council.

(Ord. 899 § 2 (Exh. A (part)), 2008)

If a commissioner is absent without cause from three (3) regular meetings of the planning commission during any calendar year, the mayor, subject to approval of a majority of the city council, may deem said commissioner's appointment immediately terminated, and may fill the vacancy in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 899 § 2 (Exh. A (part)), 2008)

(Ord. No. 1002, § 1, 2-10-2015)

The planning commission shall hold one regular meeting per month, which meeting shall be held at the Lancaster City Hall Council Chamber located at 44933 North Fern Avenue, Lancaster, California. The timing and date of such meeting shall be established by resolution of the planning commission.

(Ord. 899 § 2 (Exh. A (part)), 2008)

The commissioners of the Lancaster city planning commission shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary and proper expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as members of said planning commission.

(Ord. 899 § 2 (Exh. A (part)), 2008)