CITY PLANNING COMMISSION

Memphis Charter art. 15

in effect

Memphis Charter, art. 15, § 96 Authority to create.

Sec. 96. - Authority to create. The legislative body of the City of Memphis is hereby authorized and empowered, by ordinance duly passed, to create a City Planning Commission for such municipality. (Priv. Acts 1921, ch. 162, § 1)

Memphis Charter, art. 15, § 97 Composition.

Sec. 97. - Composition. Such City Planning Commission shall consist of eight citizen members, to be appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of the legislative body of the municipality, and four members ex officio. The Commissioner of the Department of Public Works, the Commissioner of the Department of Public Service, the Chairman of the Park Commission and the City Engineer shall be ex officio members of the Commission, and in addition there shall be a secretary, to be likewise appointed by the Mayor. The secretary shall have custody of the books and records of the Commission, but he shall have no vote. (Priv. Acts 1921, ch. 162, § 2; Priv. Acts 1937, ch. 122, § 4)

Memphis Charter, art. 15, § 98 Term of office; removal of members; compensation; allowances for expenses.

Sec. 98. - Term of office; removal of members; compensation; allowances for expenses. The term of the Chairman shall be for one year, and he shall be elected by the City Planning Commission and shall hold office until his successor is elected. The citizen members of the Commission first appointed shall serve, respectively, two for one year, three for two years, and three for three years. Thereafter members shall be appointed for terms of three years each. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term only. All members may be removed at any time, by a majority vote of the legislative body of the municipality, for cause. The secretary shall hold office at the will and pleasure of the Mayor. Neither the members of the Commission nor the secretary shall receive compensation for their services, but allowances for actual expenses in connection with duties performed may be made. (Priv. Acts 1921, ch. 162, § 2)

Memphis Charter, art. 15, § 99 Meetings; quorum; record of proceedings.

Sec. 99. - Meetings; quorum; record of proceedings. The members of the City Planning Commission shall meet at least once a month, at such times and places as they may fix by resolution. Special meetings may be called, from time to time, by the Chairman. Five members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The Commission shall cause proper record to be kept of its proceedings. (Priv. Acts 1921, ch. 162, § 3)

Memphis Charter, art. 15, § 100 Duties generally.

Sec. 100. - Duties generally. It shall be the duty of the City Planning Commission to collect data and to keep itself informed as to the best practices, and the advancement made generally, in the art of City planning (to the end that it may be qualified), to act on matters that affect the present and future movement of traffic, the convenience, the safety of persons and property, the health, the recreation and the general welfare and amenities and all other needs of the municipality, which are dependent upon the City plan. (Priv. Acts 1921, ch. 162, § 4)

Memphis Charter, art. 15, § 101 Duty of City departments to cooperate; interpretation of Act.

Sec. 101. - Duty of City departments to cooperate; interpretation of Act. It shall be the duty of all City departments to render assistance to the Planning Commission in the way of information, advice and cooperation. However, it is not intended to supplant nor impair the power of any existing board, bureau or commission already in existence and operating under Charter provisions and ordinances, except that matters coming within the purview of the Planning Commission shall be referred to that body, to the end that there shall be a proper correlation of thought and the furtherance of comprehensive plans for all betterments carried out by the City. (Priv. Acts 1921, ch. 162, § 5)

Memphis Charter, art. 15, § 102 Plans and maps; preservation of historical land marks; location of works of art, etc.

Sec. 102. - Plans and maps; preservation of historical land marks; location of works of art, etc. It shall be within the further powers and dealings of the Commission to make plans and maps of the whole or any portion of the municipality or any land outside the municipality, which in the opinion of the Commission bears a relation to the planning of the municipality, and to make changes in such plans or maps when it deems same advisable. Such plans shall show the Commission's recommendations for any streets, alleys, ways, viaducts, bridges, subways, railroads, terminals, transit lines, parkways, parks, playgrounds or any other public grounds or public improvements, and the removal, relocation, widening or extension of such public work then existing. The Commission shall have authority to recommend provisions for the preservation and care of historical landmarks, control in the manner provided by ordinance the design and location of statuary and other works of art which are, or may become, the property of the municipality, and the removal, relocation and alteration of such works belonging to the municipality, and the design and location of harbors, bridges, viaducts, street fixtures, and other public structures and appurtenances. (Priv. Acts 1921, ch. 162, § 6)

Memphis Charter, art. 15, § 103 Approval of Commission required for construction of public improvements, etc.; procedure in case of disapproval; recommendations.

Sec. 103. - Approval of Commission required for construction of public improvements, etc.; procedure in case of disapproval; recommendations. Whenever the legislative body of the municipality shall have adopted a City plan recommended by the City Planning Commission, no public buildings, streets, alleys, ways, viaducts, bridges, subways, railroads, terminals, transit lines, parkways, parks, playgrounds, or any other public grounds or public improvement, or part thereof, shall be constructed until and unless the location thereof shall be approved by the City Planning Commission; provided, however, that in case of its disapproval, the City Planning Commission shall communicate its reasons for disapproval to the legislative body of the municipality, and thereupon, by majority vote of such legislative body, it shall have the power of overruling such disapproval. The widening, narrowing, ornamentation, vacancies, or change in the use of streets and other public ways, public grounds or other public improvements, appearing on the adopted plan, shall be subject to similar approval by the Planning Commission and upon disapproval by the Planning Commission may be similarly overruled. The Planning Commission may make recommendations to any public authorities or to any corporations or individuals in such municipality, or in the territory contiguous thereto, concerning relocation of any building, structures or works to be erected or constructed by them. (Priv. Acts 1921, ch. 162, § 7)

Memphis Charter, art. 15, § 104 Submission of plans, plots, etc., to Commission for approval.

Sec. 104. - Submission of plans, plots, etc., to Commission for approval. All plans, plots or replots of lands laid out in building lots, into streets, alleys or other portions of the same, intended to be dedicated to public use, or for the use of purchasers or owners of lots fronting on or adjoining and located within the corporate limits of the municipality, shall be submitted to the City Planning Commission for approval; provided, however, that in case of its disapproval, the City Planning Commission shall communicate its reasons for disapproval to the legislative body of the municipality, and thereupon by majority vote of such legislative body it shall have the power of overruling such disapproval. (Priv. Acts 1921, ch. 162, § 8)

Memphis Charter, art. 15, § 105 Effect of approval.

Sec. 105. - Effect of approval. The approval of the City Planning Commission or legislative body shall be deemed an acceptance of the proposed dedication, but this shall not impose any duty upon the municipality concerning the maintenance or improvement of such dedicated parts until the proper municipal authority shall have made an actual appropriation of same, by entry, use or improvement. (Priv. Acts 1921, ch. 162, § 8)

Memphis Charter, art. 15, § 106 Public money not to be expended on improvements until plans approved.

Sec. 106. - Public money not to be expended on improvements until plans approved. No sewer, water or gas main, or pipes or other improvements shall be voted or made, nor shall any public money be expended for the benefit of any such purchaser or owner; nor shall any permit for connection with, or other use of any such improvement existing, or for any other reason, be given to any such purchasers or owners until such plan is so approved by the City Planning Commission or legislative body. No sewer, water or gas main or pipe or other improvements shall be voted or made, nor shall any public money be expended within any lands laid out in building lots, streets and alleys, until the plan, plot or replot of such lands shall have been approved by the City Planning Commission or legislative body. (Priv. Acts 1921, ch. 162, § 8)

Memphis Charter, art. 15, § 107 Authority to employ architects, engineers and clerical help.

Sec. 107. - Authority to employ architects, engineers and clerical help. The City Planning Commission shall have power to control, appoint or employ such architects, engineers and other professional service, and to appoint such clerks, draftsmen, and other subordinates as it shall deem necessary for the performance of its functions, the expenditures for such service and employment to be within the amounts appropriated for the use of the City Planning Commission. (Priv. Acts 1921, ch. 162, § 9)

Memphis Charter, art. 15, § 108 Annual report.

Sec. 108. - Annual report. The City Planning Commission shall make to the legislative body of the municipality an annual report, giving a resume of its work during the preceding year. In such report it shall also make recommendations as to future projects to be undertaken, and from time to time they shall also make like recommendations for public improvements, which, in its judgment, should be undertaken. (Priv. Acts 1921, ch. 162, § 10)

Source: City of Memphis, Code of Ordinances and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/memphis/codes/charter?nodeId=PTICHRELA_ART15CIPLCOFetched: 10/28/2026