Planning Commission Code — Resolution-24-102

Exactly as extracted, unformatted — for checking against the original. The readable version is easier to read.

RESOLUTION NO. 24-IO2
A RBSOLUTION OF THE QTJEENSTOWI\ PLAI\NING COMMISSION TO
REVISE AI\D REPLACE THE QTIEENSTOWN PLAI\NING COMMISSION
BYLAWS
WHEREAS, the Queenstown Planning Commission (the "Planning Commission') is authorizedto
adopt rules and bylaws for the transaction of Planning Commission business; and
WHEREAS, in 2008, the Planning Commission adopted the Queenstown Planning Commission
Bylaws, which have not been updated since 2008; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has determined that it is desirable and in the public interest
to adopt an updated version of the Planning commission Bylaws.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Queenstown Planning Commission as
FOLLOWS:
l.
That the Queenstown Planning Commission Bylaws dated August 7,2024,a copy of which
is attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein, IS HEREBY ADOPTED.
2.
That the attached Bylaws shall supersede all previously issued Planning Commission
Bylaws.
3.
This Resolution shall become effective immediately.
1
RESOLVED by the Queenstown planning commission on this day of
August, 2024.
STOWN PLANNING COMMIS SION:
oore, Town Manager
Amy W. Moore, Town Manager Geneva Thrasher-Rieu

Prepared August 7,2024
QUEENSTOWN PLANNING COMMISSION
BYLAWS
I
SECTION Composition, Appointment, and Removal
The Planning Commission shall consist of five members, appointed by the President of the
Commissioners of Queenstown and confirmed by the Town Commissioners. A majority of members
shall be residents of Queenstown; the remaining members may be residents of Queen Anne's County
who own a business located within the Town of Queenstown. The term of office of each member is five
(5) years; except that the terms of the initial members shall be staggered.
ll prior to the scheduled end of their term of office, a member ceases to be a resident of Queenstown,
or, in the case of a business owner, the member ceases to live in Queen Anne's County and/or their
business ceases to operate within the Town of Queenstown, that membe/s seat will become vacant.
Vacancies shall be filled by the President of the Commissioners of Queenstown, and confirmed by the
Town Commissioners, whether for the unexpired term of any member whose seat becomes vacant or for
the regularly scheduled end of a member's term of office.
After a public hearing before the Town Commissioners, members may be removed from office for
neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. The Town Commissioners shall provide, in advance of the
public hearing, a written statement of reasons for the removal. Notice of the public hearing will be
published in a local daily or weekly newspaper at least two weeks prior to the hearing.
ll
SECTION Officers
The Pfanning Commission shall elect at its first meeting in each calendar year a Chairperson, Vice
Chairperson, and Secretary from among the appointed members, each to serve for one year or until their
successo!1s are approved. In the event of a vacancy in any of said offices, a successor shall be
approved to serve for the unexpired term of the vacated office. In the absence of the Chairperson, the
Vice Chairperson shall serve as Acting Chairpercon.
lll
SECTION General Powers and Duties
The Planning Commission shall have the following powerc and duties:
1.
To review, evaluate, and approve or disapprove plans for subdivisions and site plans, in accordance
with the Queenstown Subdivision Ordinance.
2.To review and make recommendations to the Queenstown Town Commissioners regarding:
a. Changes or amendments to the Queenstown Comprehensive Plan;
b. Changes or amendments to the Zoning Ordinance;
c. Zoning and land use map amendments;
d. Changes or amendments to the Subdivision Ordinance;
e. Acquisition and development of lands for open space or recreation purposes in the Town of Queenstown;
f. Changes in land use or development in the Town of Queenstown arising from local, State,
or Federal programs or policies;
g. Such duties as may have been or may be assigned to it under any Queenstown ordinance.
h. Such duties as may be or have been assigned to it by Article 668, Annotated Gode of Maryland
l. Any other matters which the Town Commissioners of Queenstown may ask the Planning
Commission to consider
3. To review and make recommendations to the Queenstown Board of Zoning Appeals regarding
requests for Special Exceptions from the Zoning Ordinance.

lV
SECTION Meetings
Regular meetings of the Planning Commission shall be held on the first Wednesday of each month, 3t
the call of the Chairperson, or at such other times as the Planning Commission may determine. The
regular meetings shall be held in the Hearing Room of the Town ffice or in other locations provided
public notification of the altemate location is provided at least forty-eight hours in advance of the
meeting.
Special meetings of the Planning Commission shall be held only by a decision of the majority of the
Planning Commission members or by request of the Town Commissioners of Queenstown. The
Planning Commission shall determine the time and place of the special meeting. Notice of such
meetings shall be given to allthe members and the public not less than forty-eight hours in advance
thereof.
The meetings of the Planning Commission shall be open to the public, to the extent required by the
Maryland Open Meetings Act, but the Commission may limit active public participation in its
administrative functions. When appropriate, the Planning Commission may adjourn to Executive
Session, but only in accordance with the Maryland Open Meetings Act.
SECTION V Quorum
The presence of three unrecused members of the Planning Commission shall constitute a quorum for the
conduct of business. No action shall be taken in the absence of a quorum except to adjoum the meeting
to a subsequent date.
Vl
SECTION Voting
At all meetings of the Planning Commission each member attending shall be entitled to cast one vote.
Voting shall be by voice. An affirmative vote of a majority of those present shall be required to effect a
decision or recommendation of the Planning Commission. A tie vote shall fail passage of a motion.
ln the event that any member shall have a perconal interest of any kind that would affect their ability to
render a decision on a matter then before the Commission based solely on the evidence, he or she shall
disclose his or her interest and be disqualified from voting upon the matter, and the Secretary shall so
record in the minutes that no vote was cast by such member.
SECTION Vll Proceedings
At any regular meeting of the Planning Commission, the following shall be the regular order of business:
o
The Chairperson will callthe meeting to order.
o
The Chairperson will state that the members have had an opportunity to review
the agenda and will ask if a member has anything to disclose.
o
The minutes will be read; changes noted; and a vote taken on the minutes.
o
Public issues will be heard in the following manner:
1. lntroduction of participants;
2. Staff report;
3.Applicant will present case;
4. Planning Commission will ask questions;
5.Opposition may present its case;
6. Planning Commission will ask questions;
7. Citizens ask questions or present comments on the proposal;
S.Applicants make a final statement;

9.Stafiwill present any additional recommendationa or @mments;
'10. Planning Commission will have a general discussion;
11. Motion will bs made and s€condod:
12. Motion will bs discussed; and
13. Vote will be taken by a[ memb€rs,
.
Stafi General Report
.
ChairpeFon's Report
.
Action items
.
lmportant Dates
.
Study ltems
.
Adjoumment
Vlll
SECTION Rules of Pmcedure
All msotings of the Planning Commiseion shall b€ conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Ordsr. Atl rcqussts for
ac'tion8 or dscisions by the Planning Commission on matters within its puMe , shall be submifted in w Ung, including the
appropriatB applications and fs€s, at least two wseks prior to ths mesting of tho Commission at whir$ the request will be
considered,
At the meeting of the Planning Commtssion, any interested pe6on shall have the right to submtt, in
accodanc€ with established rules, oral or writbn tsstimony and commenl Rules of svldence shall be relax€d, hoivever the
burden of proof shall remain wih the applicant. All wihesses (including staff) who ar€ tedirying for those cases in which the
Planning Commission is gxercising it decision-maklng authority may be requir€d to testiry under oath. The Planning
Commisdon shall have the autholity to direcfly consult legal coun$t, when necsssary, b€fore rcndoring any decision or
making any recommsndation.
lX
SECTION Duties of Offcers
Ths duties of the offc€rs of the Planning Commission shalt be as bllotrs:
Chairperson
1.
Prsside at all meetings of the Commission;
2.
Call spsclal moetings of ths Commission in accrrdancs with these bylaws.
3.
Plepare the agenda fur all mo€tings of the Commission. Pmjoc{s will not b€ placed on lhe agenda unless
the Town Offce r€ceives a complete application a minimum of two weeks bebr€ the meeting; and
4.
Soe that all actions of the Commission arc propedy sxecutod.
Mce Chairpetson
1.
During the abs€nce of the Chairperson, the Mce Chaiperson shall
exerciso or perform all the duties and shall be subjsct to all
respongibilitiss of the Chaim€rson.
2.
During the absenco, disability, or disqualification of the Chairperson ano
the Vic€ Chairperson, the member who has servod on the board the
longest shall exercise or perbrm all the dutiss and be subject to all the
resoonsibilities of the ChairDerson.
Secretary
.
1 Ksop minutes of all of the Commission's proce€dings, which shall
contain the namss of the memb€rs prcsent a summary of all testimony,
comm6nt, or evidenco pres€nted: the exhibits presentsd: and the
decision or rccommendation of the Commission.
2.
A psrmanent file of each proceeding, includirE applications and the
minutes, shall be maintainsd in ths Town Offce of Queenstown and
shall be public rccord.

Town Staff
1. Give or serve all notices required by law or these bylaws;
2. Be custodian of Commission records, all of which shall be open to the
public. Appropriate fees may be charged for copies; and
3. Inform the Commission of conespondence relating to business of the
Commission and to attend to such correspondence when directed by the
Commission.
SECTION X Responsibilities of Members of the Planning Gommission
o
Attend and fteely participate in discussions at regular and special meetings.
Develop an understanding of Article 668 of the Public General Laws of Maryland; the
Queenstown Comprehensive Plan; the Queenstown Zoning, Subdivision, Floodplain
Management, Stormwater Management, and Forest Conservation Ordinances; and the
spirit and intent of these documents.
o Gain an understanding of State and Federal agency programs and laws which affect
Queenstown.
o Gain an understanding of the workings of local administrative bodies.
o Make personal inspections, when necessary, of land and other situations that require
Commission action.
o Help the general public to understand and accept the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning
Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, and other Town plans and regulations.
Xl
SECTION Meeting Attendance
Accepting the position of Planning Commissioner involves a significant time commitment. Members
are requiied to attend all regular or special meetings, complete mandatory training, and continually
e*pand their understanding of planning topics, Attendance at Planning Commission meetings or workshops
is mandatory unless a member is excused due to exceptional circumstances. lf a member needs to be excused,
tney snou6 notiff the Chair or Town Manger. Failure to attend three consecutive regular or work session meeting-s,
or fbur regular oiwork session meetings within a calendar year without excuse, may result in the Ghair recommending
to the Town Cbmmissioners that the member be removed from the Commission for cause.
Xll
SECTION Committees
To assist in its community planning efforts, the Planning Commission shall appoint any special
committees of citizens it deems necessary to provide advice and counsel to carry out its overall
responsibilities.
Xll
SECTION Amending BYlaws
These Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Plannin_g Commission provided that notice of said
proposed meetingis given to each member in writing at least five days prior to said meeting. A copy of
these bylaws will be provided to the Town Commissioners of Queenstown.
SECTION XIV Conflict with Maryland Annotated Code
Whenever a conflict or discrepancy exists between the wording in these Bylaws and the applicable
goveming section of the Maryland Annotated Code, as may be amended, is found to exist; then the
6ffective-provisions of the Marytand Annotated Code shall govem and supersede the specific wording of
these Bylaws, until such time as the conflict or discrepancy is eliminated. Where such conflicts are
discoveied to exist, the Planning Commission shall proceed to update and amend the Bylaws to
eliminate said conflict or discrepancy at its earliest convenience.
These Bylaws were adopted by the Planning Commission at its August 7,2024 meeting.