§ 36.2-817. Powers and duties.

(a)

Generally. The Commission shall have the following powers and duties, in addition to those prescribed elsewhere in this Code and by State law, including those set out in Section 15.2-2221, Code of Virginia (1950), as amended:

(1)

The Commission shall make a study of the subdivision regulations of the City, as set out in Chapter 31 of this Code, and the Charter and other City ordinances and State statutes of similar purport and design, to assure the orderly subdivision of lands and their development within the City. From time to time, the Commission shall offer suggestions and recommendations to the City Council that such studies by the Commission may reveal to be essential to the attainment of fair, equitable, and harmonious ordinances and laws and to the promotion, preparation, development, and preservation of the Comprehensive Plan and revisions thereof.

(2)

The Commission shall promote public interest in and understanding of the Comprehensive Plan, and to that end, may publish and distribute copies of the Comprehensive Plan or of any report and may employ such other means of publicity and education as it may determine.

(3)

The Commission shall, from time to time, recommend to the appropriate public officials programs for public structures and improvements and for the financing thereof and shall consult and advise public officials and agencies, public utility companies, civil, education, professional and other organizations, and citizens with relation to complying with or implementing the Comprehensive Plan.

(4)

The Commission may control, preserve, and care for all historical landmarks now owned or hereafter acquired by the City; control the design and location of statuary and other works of art which are or become the property of the City; and provide for the removal, relocation, and alteration of any such works belonging to the City. Where appropriate by the delineated powers and duties of Division 2 of this article, Architectural Review Board, and the regulations of the Historic Downtown Overlay District (H-1) and the Historic Neighborhood Overlay District (H-2), such control, preservation, and care by the Commission for historical landmarks owned by the City shall not infringe on the duties and powers of the Architectural Review Board as set out in this chapter.

(5)

The Commission shall make recommendations to the City Council concerning the following:

(A)

The design of public streets on new, widened, or reconstructed rights-of-way; the design of bridges, viaducts, street fixtures, and other related appurtenances;

(B)

The design of new public parks and open spaces; renovations to existing public parks and facilities contained thereon;

(C)

The design of new public buildings, including both site and architectural plans; exterior renovations to existing public buildings involving additions or other site improvements including parking lots or the erection of new accessory structures; and

(D)

The establishment of design standards or guidelines as they relate to public rights-of-way including lighting fixtures, landscaping, street name and directional signs, benches, and other related appurtenances.

(b)

Comprehensive Plan.

(1)

The Commission shall prepare and recommend a Comprehensive Plan for the physical development of the City in accordance with the requirements of Section 15.2-2223, Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.

(2)

In the preparation of a Comprehensive Plan, the Commission shall conduct such surveys and studies as are required by Section 15.2-2224, Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.

(3)

The Commission shall recommend to the City Council the adoption of or the amendment of the Comprehensive Plan, or parts thereof, in conformance with the procedural requirements set out in Section 15.2-2225 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.

(4)

Whenever the Commission recommends a Comprehensive Plan, or part thereof, and such plan has been approved and adopted by the City Council, it shall control the general or approximate location, character, and extent of each feature, including any road improvement and any transportation improvement, shown on the plan according to Section 15.2-2232, Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.

(c)

Zoning ordinance and map amendments.

(1)

The Commission may initiate, by motion, an amendment to this chapter, including any provision of this chapter or the Official Zoning Map, pursuant to the procedures of Section 36.2-540.

(2)

The Commission shall review, evaluate, report, and make recommendations to the City Council regarding any proposed amendment of any regulation or district boundary provided by this chapter, pursuant to the procedures of Section 36.2-540 and Section 36.2-541.

(d)

Right of entry. The Commission, its members, officers, and employees, in the performance of their functions, may enter upon any land in the City and make examinations and surveys and place and maintain necessary monuments and markers thereon.

(Ord. No. 37633, § 18, 11-20-06)

(Ord. No. 37633, § 18, 11-20-06)