Board of Zoning Appeals

 

The Board of Zoning Appeals has the authority to make final administrative decisions for the local government concerning the zoning ordinance. The powers of the board are limited to three specific subject matter areas:

• Determining appeals from administrative decisions of the zoning administrator
• Granting or denying applications for variances
• Granting or denying applications for special exceptions

A variance allows the board to modify an otherwise legitimate zoning restriction when, due to unusual conditions, the restriction may be more burdensome than was intended. The board of appeals has the exclusive power to permit uses by special exception subject to standards and conditions in the zoning ordinance. Appeals from administrative actions and decisions of the zoning administrator are taken to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The Board of Zoning Appeals is a quasi-judicial board, which means the board has final say; city council has no say in the decisions of this board. If the applicant does not agree with the Board of Zoning Appeals decision, the next step would be circuit court.

The Board of Zoning Appeals meets once a month as needed.