The commissioners court must appoint a zoning commission, and the commission must make recommendations and hold hearings before its final report. Written notice is required before zoning-classification hearing dates, and certain appointment and compensation rules apply.
Sec. 231.036. ZONING COMMISSION. (a) The commissioners court shall appoint a zoning commission. The commission shall recommend boundaries for the original zoning districts and appropriate zoning regulations for each district. The commission must consist of an ex officio chairman and four additional members. (b) The commissioners court shall appoint a chairman who must be a public official in Val Verde County. The chairman serves a two-year term of office. The other members serve four-year terms. In making the initial appointments of the other members, the commissioners court shall designate the members for staggered terms of one, two, three, and four years. In the event of resignation, end of term, or a vacancy, the court shall appoint new members. The court shall fill a vacancy in the office of chairman by appointment. A person is not eligible for appointment to, or service on, the commission after the person's 70th birthday. The zoning commission may employ a secretary, an acting secretary, and other technical or clerical personnel. (c) A member of the commission is entitled to compensation in the amount of $10 a month except that the chairman of the zoning commission is not entitled to compensation under this section if the chairman receives compensation in the chairman's capacity as a public official in the county. A member of the commission may also be entitled to expenses actually incurred while serving on the commission as provided by order of the commissioners court. (d) The zoning commission shall make a preliminary report and hold public hearings on that report before submitting a final report to the commissioners court. The commissioners court may not take action or hold a public hearing until it has received the final report of the commission. (e) Before the 10th day before the hearing date, written notice of each public hearing before the zoning commission on a proposed change in a zoning classification shall be sent to: (1) each owner of affected property or to the person who renders the property for county taxes; and (2) each owner of property that is located within 200 feet of property affected by the change or to the person who renders the property for county taxes. (f) The notice may be served by depositing it, postage paid and properly addressed, in the United States mail. Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.