For which size of municipalities is a planning board that exercises zoning powers required to consist of a minimum of 9 members?

A planning board that exercises zoning powers in a municipality is required to consist of a minimum of 9 members when the municipality has a population that is over 10,000 and under 15,000. This requirement is based on the state's statutory provisions that ensure adequate representation and expertise in planning matters as municipalities grow in size and complexity.

The rationale behind establishing a minimum number of members is to facilitate thorough and diverse input on planning and zoning decisions, which can be more nuanced in municipalities with larger populations. A planning board with more members can better represent different community interests, ensure a wide range of perspectives in decision-making, and provide a more robust framework for urban planning and development.

As populations grow, the intricacies of planning issues increase, hence the need for a larger board to address those issues effectively. In municipalities with populations under 10,000, smaller planning boards are typically sufficient due to the limited scale of planning challenges. Conversely, municipalities with populations over 15,000 have additional requirements and structures that can accommodate larger boards, but the specific threshold of 9 members applies directly to those municipalities within the stated range.