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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/17/1979 - Regular Minutes - Zoning Board of AdjustmentsMINUTES ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT April 17, 1979 • MEMBERS PRESENT: W W. Harper, Ann Jones, Dorothy DuBois, Larry Ringer, Pat Boughton, Chris Mathewson, E. Murl Bailey. VISITORS PRESENT: Building Official Koehler, City Attorney Lewis, City Planner Mayo, Asst. Planner Calloway, Asst. Planner Longley, Captain Joe McNabb. Ringer assumed the Chair. Lewis administered the oath of office to all members present. Harper assumed the Chair. Agenda Item Number 1 -- Approval of the minutes of the meeting of March 20, 1979: The Board consented to solicit the approval of former members present on March 20, 1979 and to defer approval to the next regular meeting. Koehler outlined the functions of the Board set out in Section 11 of the Zoning Ordinance and the constraints imposed by the ordinance in variance cases. He discussed policies adopted by the Board dealing with notification of interested parties, positive motions made by the Chairman and attendance of applicants or their repre- sentatives. Lewis discussed the following points: The Board derives its powers from the Zoning Ordinance as authorized by statutes permitting powers of cities in Zoning. The Board exercises judicial functions with respect to zoning as opposed to legislative or enforcement functions assigned to the Council, Planning Comm_i.ssion and Building Official. Zoning Ordinances are necessarily broad in scope, and the Board exists and has the flexibility to pursue justice and equity within the spirit and intent of the ordinance. The Board may adopt its own rules and procedures. The Board's deliberations are subject to the Open Meetings Law. Accurate Minutes are required and should reflect the reasons for actions taken. • Minutes ~ Page 2 The Board is free to defer decisions or to table items when reasonable and desirable to do so. Board members are not personally liable for their good faith acts or decisions in the absence of malice or obvious conflicting interests. Enabling statutes allow broader scope to the Board's discretion than does our ordinance; this could be changed by ordinance amendment if the need arises. He briefly discussed the considerations and necessary findings in variance cases, appeals and boundary determinations. He added that the theory of restriction of non-conformities is that prolongation of their useful lines is to be discouraged beyond re asonable use of the property. Agenda Item Number 2 -- Consideration of a request for expansion of a non-conforming structure at 1303 Au.~ustine Court: Koehler explained that the applicant had been unexpectedly called out of tom and had no one capable of representing his interests. The Board consented to delay hearing the case until the next regular meeting. Agenda Item Number 3 -- Other Business: Matthewson reported that the ordinance amendment concerning signs and affecting the A. R. C°, tract was under active considerations by the Planning Commission and Council. Harper remarked that the matter seemed to be progressing satisfactorily and directed that reconsideration of the A. R. C. case be placed on the next Board agenda and that the applicant be notified. Harper asked the BoardTS opinion on election of a vice-chairman or other officers. The Board concurred that an acting chairman could be designated by the Chairman or selected by the Board at such times as the Cha~~An could not serve. Agenda Item Number L~ -- Ad:i ourn: Matthewson moved that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was seconded by Bailey and unanimously approved. (Lewis administered the oath of office to DuBois at the conclusion of the meeting.)