The City’s Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z for short) consists of seven members who must be residents of the City of Van Meter and shall not hold any elective office in the City government. Members with some qualifications in terms of knowledge or experience related to planning and zoning are preferred. Each term is for a period of 5 years.

P&Z is responsible for a number of requirements as set forth in the Iowa Code, which have been adopted locally into the Van Meter Code of Ordinances, Chapter 165. Duties include making recommendations to the City Council on zoning regulations and districts, assist in preparing the City’s Comprehensive Plan, and approval of documents pertaining but not limited to plats of survey, preliminary plats, final plats, and construction drawings. P&Z also makes recommendations to the Board of Adjustment on special use permits. This Commission meets monthly or as needed to address new applications for rezoning requests, special use permits, subdivisions, and more.