Planning Commission

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A body, usually having five or seven members, made up of residents appointed by the city council, the mayor, or the board of supervisors to consider land use matters. The commission’s duties and powers are established by the local legislative body and might include hearing proposals to amend the general plan or rezone land, initiating planning studies (road alignments, identification of seismic hazards, and so on), and taking action on proposed specific projects and subdivisions. Planning commissions have broad discretionary power; their decisions can be appealed to the legislative body within the jurisdiction (the city council or board of supervisors).

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