Zoning FAQ 2

May a municipality provide for a plan commission with a make-up different than is set forth in the statutes?

The first sentence of Wis. Stat. sec. 62.23(1)(a), made applicable to villages by sec. 61.35, provides that all seven members of the plan commission are to be appointed by the mayor (or village president), and the mayor or village president may choose the commission’s presiding officer. In addition, the statute provides that the mayor (village president) may appoint himself or herself and other municipal elected or appointed officials to the plan commission. The statute also provides that the commission must have at least three citizen members who are not municipal officials. However, the last sentence of Wis. Stat. sec. 62.23(1)(a) states that a municipal governing body may by ordinance provide that the membership of the plan commission shall be as set forth in the ordinance.