BEAUFORT, S.C. (Oct. 25, 2023) – The City of Beaufort is seeking members to serve on its Planning Commission. The new Planning Commission assumes discretionary review authority formerly held by the Metropolitan Planning Commission and the city’s Design Review Board.
The commission has openings for seven members, whose terms will be staggered. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Nov. 6. City Council is expected to interview candidates at its Nov. 14 Work Session, with appointments of members to occur at a regular meeting of Council on a subsequent date to be determined.
Applicants for appointment to the Planning Commission are asked to complete the form found at the link below:
https://www.cityofbeaufort.org/FormCenter/Human-Resources-Department-6/City-of-Beaufort-Board-and-Commission-Ap-59
All members of the Planning Commission must be residents of the City of Beaufort, and/or property owners within the City of Beaufort, and/or own or operate a business within the City of Beaufort. Additionally, at least four members must be either be a licensed architect, landscape architect, attorney, civil engineer, urban planner, or licensed contractor.
The Planning Commission has the following responsibilities and discretionary authorities:
- Review and approve, approve with conditions, or deny all major subdivision sketch plans.
- Review and make recommendations to the City Council regarding amendments to the text of the Beaufort Development Code.
- Review and make recommendations to the City Council regarding amendments to the official zoning map.
- Review and make recommendations to the City Council regarding amendments to the Comprehensive Plan.
- Review and approve, approve with conditions, or deny major site and delegate to City Staff all other site plan approvals not stated in Section 9.8.2 of the Beaufort Development Code.
- Delegate preliminary plat, and final subdivision plat review and approval to City Staff.
- Review and make recommendations to City Council regarding proposed annexations into the City.
- Consider the Northern Beaufort County Regional Plan and Growth Area in any review and approval as defined.
Following appointments, the Planning Commission will meet at 5 p.m. on the third Monday of every month in City Council chambers.