Zoning Board of Appeals

Overview

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)  is a 7 member board appointed by the City Council to hear and rule on zoning variance requests and appeals, serving 3-year terms. The role of the ZBA is to act as a judicial review body for the Zoning Ordinance and to decide on variance requests, provide ordinance interpretation for the zoning text and the map, and hear appeals of the zoning administrator's decisions.

ZBA decisions should be based on the facts of the case and must be based on the requirements and standards of the Zoning Ordinance. If the ordinance is worded as such that it is in conflict with outcomes desired by the Master Plan, the ZBA should refer that information back to the Planning Commission.