§ 15-6. Powers and duties.

(a)

General. The commission shall make and adopt a master plan for the physical development of the Town of Berwick.

(1)

Such plan, with the accompanying maps, plats, charts, and descriptive matter shall show the commission's recommendations for the development of the town, including among other things, the general location, character, and extent of railroads, highways, streets, viaducts, subways, bus, street car, and other transportation routes, bridges, waterways, lakes, water fronts, boulevards, parkways, playgrounds, squares, parks, aviation fields, and other public ways, grounds, and open spaces; the general location of public buildings, schools, and other public property; the general character and extent and layout of public housing and of the replanning of blighted districts and slum areas; the general location and extent of public utilities and terminals, whether publicly or privately owned or operated, for water, light, sanitation, communication, power, transportation and other purposes; and the removal, relocation, widening, narrowing, vacating, abandonment, change of use or extension of any of the foregoing ways, grounds, open spaces, buildings, property, utilities, or terminals.

(2)

As the work of making the whole master plan progresses, the commission may from time to time adopt and publish a part or parts thereof, any such part to cover one or more major sections or divisions of the town, or one or more of the aforesaid or other functional matters to be included in the plan.

(3)

The commission may from time to time amend, extend, or add to the plan.

(4)

In the preparation of such plan the commission shall make careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of present conditions and future growth of the town and its environs.

(5)

The plan shall be made with the general purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted, and harmonious development of the town and its environs which will, in accordance with present and future needs, best promote health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare, as well as efficiency and economy in the process of development; including, among other things, adequate provision for traffic, the promotion of safety from fire and other dangers, adequate provision for light and air, the promotion of the healthful and convenient distribution of population, the promotion of good civic design and arrangement, wise and efficient public expenditure of public funds, the adequate provision of public utilities and other public requirements, and vehicular parking.

(6)

Adoption of the plan. The commission may adopt the plan as a whole by a single resolution or may by successive resolutions adopt successive parts of the plan, said parts corresponding with major geographical sections or divisions of the town, or with functional subdivisions of the subject matter of the plan, and may adopt any amendment or extension thereof or addition thereto.

a.

Before the adoption of the plan or any such part, amendment, extension, or addition, the commission shall hold at least one public hearing thereon.

b.

The commission shall give notice of the purpose, time, and place of the public hearing by one publication in the official journal of the town at least ten (10) days prior to the date set for the hearing.

c.

The adoption of the plan, or of any such part or amendment or extension or addition shall be by resolution of the commission. The resolution shall refer expressly to the maps and descriptive and other matter intended by the commission to form the whole or part of the plan, and the action taken shall be recorded on the map and plan and descriptive matter by the identifying signature of the chairman or secretary of the commission. Certified copies of the plan or parts thereof shall be filed with the Louisiana State Planning Office, with the council and with the clerk of court of St. Mary Parish.

(b)

Subdivisions of land. The commission shall exercise all of the powers and duties conferred by the provisions contained in the Town of Berwick Home Rule Charter, the Town of Berwick Subdivision Ordinance, and Revised Statutes 33:109 through 33:120, inclusive.

(c)

Zoning. The commission herein established shall serve as the zoning commission, and when acting as such, it shall hold separate meetings with separate minutes and records. When acting as the zoning commission, it shall exercise all of the powers and duties conferred by the Town of Berwick Home Rule Charter, the Town of Berwick Zoning Ordinance, and Revised Statutes 33:4721 through 33:4729, inclusive.

(1)

In the exercise of the powers conferred upon it as the zoning commission, the commission shall recommend to the town council a comprehensive zoning plan for the town which shall be designed to lessen congestion in the public streets, secure safety from fire, promote health and the general welfare, provide adequate light and air, avoid undue concentration of population, and facilitate adequate transportation, water supply, sewerage, schools, parks, and other public requirements.

(2)

The commission shall function to recommend the boundaries of the various original districts as well as the restrictions and regulations to be enforced therein, and any supplements, changes or modifications thereof.

(3)

Before making any recommendation to the council, the commission shall hold a public hearing. Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be published at least three (3) times in the official journal of the Town of Berwick, and at least ten (10) days shall elapse between the first publication and date of the hearing. After the hearing has been held by the commission, it shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the council. The council shall not hold its public hearings or take action until it has received the final report of the commission.

(Ord. No. 425, 8-12-97)