Opinion ID: 2196601
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Commission's Recommendation.

Text: We first decide whether the zoning commission must approve a petition for rezoning as a prerequisite to consideration of the petition by the county board of supervisors. The district court concluded that the Commission's approval was required. We think that the relationship between the Commission and the Board as well as the language of the statute do not support this conclusion. Section 358A.8 provides: In order to avail itself of the powers conferred by this chapter, the board of supervisors shall appoint a commission..., to be known as the county zoning commission, to recommend the boundaries of the various original districts, and appropriate regulations and restrictions to be enforced therein. Such commission shall, with due diligence, prepare a preliminary report and hold public hearings thereon before submitting its final report; and the board of supervisors shall not hold its public hearings or take action until it has received the final report of such commission. After the adoption of such regulations, restrictions, and boundaries of districts, the zoning commission may, from time to time, recommend to the board of supervisors amendments, supplements, changes or modifications.... Iowa Code § 358A.8 (1991) (emphasis added) (now recodified at Iowa Code § 335.8 (1993)). Under our zoning law the zoning commission is the recommending body and the board of supervisors is the legislative body. Bowen v. Story County Bd. of Supervisors, 209 N.W.2d 569, 571 (Iowa 1973); see 8A E. McQuillin, Municipal Corporations § 25.226 (3d ed. rev.1994) (hereinafter McQuillin). Thus, the county zoning commission is an advisory body. Bowen, 209 N.W.2d at 571. The board is not bound to accept the recommendation of the commission. See McQuillin, § 25.226. Under the district court's interpretation of section 358A.8, the Commission would have the power to deny a petition for rezoning and deprive the Board of its obligation to consider the petition. This interpretation is inconsistent with the distribution of power between the Commission and the Board as outlined above. This interpretation is also inconsistent with the language of the statute. Section 358A.8 states that the commission may ... recommend. The legislature's use of the word may shows its intention that the zoning commission is entitled to recommend amendments to the Board, not that it must make such a recommendation. Compare Iowa Code § 4.1(30)(c) (The word `may' confers a power.) with Iowa Code § 4.1(30)(b) (The word `must' states a requirement.). Furthermore, a recommendation is an action which is advisory in nature rather than one having any binding effect. Black's Law Dictionary 1272 (6th ed. 1990). Therefore, we conclude section 358A.8 does not give the Commission a veto power over rezoning requests. The trial court erred in ruling that an affirmative vote of the Commission is a prerequisite to the Board's consideration of a petition for rezoning. Consequently, the Board's action is not invalid on this basis.