Planning Commission

Meetings

• Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month (if applications are received)
• Meetings are held at 6:00PM 
• Meeting Location: City Council Chambers

Establishment

The Middletown Planning Commission is established by City Council.

Membership

Membership The Planning Commission shall be comprised of nine members as follows:

1. The City Council shall appoint six voting members of the Planning Commission who shall each be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the City.
2. One additional voting member shall be appointed by the Board of Education for the Middletown City School District.
3. In addition to the seven voting members, there shall be the following two additional members who shall not vote on any matters before the Planning Commission:
   1. One member of City Council, as designated by Council; and
   2. The Development Code Administrator or other staff member as may be appointed by City Council.
4. Each member shall serve four-year terms. The terms of existing members shall continue until expiration.
5. Any such member of the Planning Commission may serve on other administrative boards of the City, if such other office is not incompatible with membership on the Planning Commission.
6. Members of the Planning Commission may be removed for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance by City Council.
7. A vacancy occurring during the term of any member of the Planning Commission shall be filled, by appointment from City Council or Board of Education, as applicable, for the unexpired term in a manner authorized for the original appointment. 

Roles and Powers of the Planning Commission

The Planning Commission shall have the following roles and powers to:

1. Consider all questions relating to the City’s planning policies;
2. Advise on all matters involving acquisition or disposal of public real estate;
3. Advise in the preparation of a budget for capital improvements and recommend the priority of acquisition of such improvements;
4. Initiate, hear, review, and make recommendations to City Council related to amendments to the text of this code, the zoning map, or PD plans and related zoning map amendments;
5. Hear, review, and make decisions related to the PD final development plans;
6. Hear, review, and make decisions on conditional uses in the respective zoning district;
7. Hear, review and make decisions on alternative equivalent review applications on standards except for historic preservation standards;
8. Hear, review, and decide on any proposed amendments to previously approved planned use modification approvals and documents;
9. Review and make decisions on minor subdivisions when such application is forwarded to the Planning Commission by the Development Code Administrator;
10. Review and make decisions on the preliminary plat, construction drawings, and final plats of major subdivisions;
11. Review and make decisions on requests for subdivision modifications; and
12. Perform any other duties related to the administration and enforcement of this code as authorized by the charter and this code.

Bylaws, Rules, and Regulations

The Planning Commission shall, by a majority vote of its entire membership, adopt bylaws, rules, or regulations for the governance of Planning Commission activities provided they are consistent with the charter or with any other ordinances of the City.

Meetings

1. The Planning Commission shall hold such meetings as it may require for conducting its business.   
2. The Development Code Administrator or staff appointee to the Planning Commission shall serve as secretary of the Planning Commission.
3. The Planning Commission shall elect a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson from among the members of the Planning Commission at the Commission’s first meeting of the year. During the temporary absence of the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson shall fulfill the duties of the Chairperson. If both the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson are absent, a member of the Planning Commission may make a motion to appoint an acting Chairperson for that meeting.
4. All meetings shall be open to the public, except as exempted by law.

Quorums and Decisions

1. Any combination of four or more regular voting members of the Planning Commission shall constitute a quorum.
2. The Planning Commission shall act when at least four voting members concur.
3. Non-decision items, such as continuance or approval of minutes, shall require a majority of the quorum to concur.
4. The Planning Commission may be required to make an annual report and such other reports as may be requested by City Council.

If you're interested in serving on the Planning Commission, please fill out the Boards & Commissions Application and return to James Metz, City Planner, at 513-425-7947 or jamesme@cityofmiddletown.org or you can apply online at: Boards & Commissions Online Application.