[Amended 10-10-2005 by Ord. No. 485; 12-11-2006 by Ord. No. 505; 8-13-2018 by Ord. No. 658]
A.
How constituted: members, meetings and records.
(1)
Members. The Board of Appeals shall consist of five residents appointed by the Village President, subject to confirmation by the Village Board, for three-year staggered terms. The members shall serve for such compensation as shall be fixed from time to time by the Village Board and shall be removable by the Village President for cause upon written charges and after public hearing. The Village President shall designate one of the members as Chairperson. The Village President shall appoint two alternate members for staggered three-year terms, in addition to the five members above provided for, and annually shall designate one of the alternate members as first alternate and the other as second alternate. The first alternate shall act, with full power, only when a member of the Board refuses to vote because of interest or is absent. The second alternate shall so act only when the first alternate so refuses or is absent or when more than one member of the Board so refuses or is absent. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term of members, including alternate members, whose terms become vacant. The Board of Appeals may employ a secretary and other employees.
(2)
Rules and meetings. The Board of Appeals shall use Robert's Rules of Order for government and procedure. Meetings of the Board of Appeals shall be held at the call of the Chair and at such other times as the Board of Appeals may determine. The Chair or, in his or her absence, the Acting Chair, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses. All meetings shall be open to the public.
(3)
Records. The Board of Appeals shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question, or, if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact, and shall keep records of its examinations and other official actions, all of which shall be immediately filed in the office of the Board of Appeals and shall be a public record.
B.
Powers of the Board of Appeals.
(1)
The purpose of this section is to provide regulations which enable the Village to hear and decide requests for permitted variation from the terms of this chapter as will not be contrary to the public interest, where, owing to special factors, a literal enforcement of the provisions of this chapter would result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship, so that the spirit of this chapter shall be observed, public safety and welfare secured, and substantial justice done, as provided for by Wis. Stats. 62.23(7)(e)7. The Board of Appeals may reverse or affirm wholly or in part or may modify any order, requirement, decision or determination appealed from and shall make such order, requirement, decision or determination as in its opinion ought to be made in the premises and to that end shall have all powers of the Zoning Administrator.
(2)
The Board of Appeals shall have the following powers:
(a)
To authorize upon appeal in specific cases such variance from the terms of the applicable chapters of this Code as will not be contrary to the public interest, where, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the provisions of the Code will result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship, so that the spirit of the Codes shall be observed, public safety and welfare secured, and substantial justice done.
[1]
In every case where a variance from these regulations has been granted by the Board of Appeals, the minutes of the Board shall affirmatively show that an unnecessary hardship or practical difficulty exists by the standards set forth in this section.
[2]
The records of the Board shall clearly show in what particular and specific respect an unnecessary hardship or practical difficulty would be created by the literal application of such regulations.
(b)
To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the Zoning Administrator, Building Inspector, Plumbing Inspector or Electrical Inspector, except where prohibited by statute.
(3)
In addition to the foregoing, the Board of Appeals shall have the following specific powers:
(a)
To grant a permit for a temporary building for commerce or industry in a residence district that is not covered under any other provisions of this Code and that is incidental to the residential development, such permit to be issued for a period of not more than one year.
(b)
To grant a permit for the extension of a district boundary for a distance of not more than 35 feet only where the boundary of a district divides a lot in a single ownership at the time of the adoption of this chapter.
(c)
To permit the change of a nonconforming use to another nonconforming use of the same or higher classification. See § 245-10F.
(d)
To interpret the provisions of the chapter in such a way as to carry out the intent and purpose of the plan as shown on the District Map accompanying and made a part of this chapter, where the street layout actually on the ground varies from the street layout on such map.
(e)
To permit in appropriate cases, and subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the Code, a building or premises to be erected or used for such public utility purposes in any location which is reasonably necessary for the public convenience or welfare.
(f)
The Board of Appeals shall have the power to call on any other Village department for assistance in the performance of its duties, and it shall be the duty of such other departments to render such assistance as may be reasonably required.
C.
Appeal procedure.
(1)
Appeals to the Board of Appeals may be taken by any person aggrieved or by an officer, department, board or bureau of the Village affected by any decision of the Zoning Administrator, Building Inspector, Plumbing Inspector or Electrical Inspector. Such appeal shall be taken within a reasonable time, as provided by the rules of the Board of Appeals, by filing with the Zoning Administrator and with the Board of Appeals a notice of appeal specifying the grounds thereof. The Zoning Administrator shall forthwith transmit to the Board of Appeals all the papers constituting the record upon which the action appealed from was taken. The Board of Appeals shall fix a reasonable time for the hearing of appeals, give public notice and decide the same within a reasonable time pursuant to the procedures set forth in this section.
(2)
Review and approval.
(a)
All variance requests shall be subject to the review of the Zoning Administrator. The Board of Appeals shall review and act on all variance requests in accordance with the procedures in this section.
(3)
Initiation of request. Proceedings for approval of a request to the Board of Appeals shall be initiated by an application of the owner(s) or the owner's authorized agent for the subject property.
(4)
Application requirements. Applications shall contain the following:
(a)
A map of the generalized location of the subject property in relation to the Village as a whole.
(b)
A map of the subject property (at a minimum scale of one inch equals 800 feet) showing all lands for which the variance or other determination is proposed and all other lands within 300 feet of the boundaries of the subject property, together with the names and addresses of the owners of all lands on said map as the same appear on the current records of the Register of Deeds. Said map shall clearly indicate the current zoning of the subject property and its environs. All lot dimensions of the subject property, a graphic scale, and a North arrow shall be provided.
(c)
A written description of the proposed variance or other determination describing the type of specific requirements of the variance or other determination proposed for the subject property.
(d)
A site plan of the subject property as proposed for development or change. Said site plan shall conform to any and all the requirements of § 245-56.6.
(e)
Written justification for the requested variance or other determination consisting of the reasons why the applicant believes the proposed variance or other determination is appropriate.
(5)
Application certification. All applications for requested variances shall be certified as complete by the Zoning Administrator a minimum of two weeks prior to the initiation of this procedure. If the Zoning Administrator determines that the application is not complete or does not fulfill the requirements of this chapter, he or she shall return a copy of the application to the applicant and indicate incomplete or missing requirements.
(6)
Review by the Zoning Administrator. The Zoning Administrator shall review and evaluate the application and prepare a written report to be forwarded to the Zoning Board of Appeals for review and action. If the Zoning Administrator determines that the proposal may be in conflict with the provisions of this chapter or the Comprehensive Plan, the Zoning Administrator shall note this determination in the report. Through the written report, the Zoning Administrator shall evaluate the following:
(a)
Variances. In the case of a variance, whether exceptional or extraordinary circumstances or special factors are present that apply only to the subject property. The report shall clearly indicate how the subject property contains factors that are not present on other properties in the same zoning district. Area variances may be granted if there are unusual circumstances that apply to a lot or structure that don't apply to other properties in the district; granting a variance would not adversely impact the purposes of this Code; and strict application of the Code provisions would result in exceptional difficulties or hardship. Use variances may only be granted if literal interpretation of the Code would leave the owner with no reasonable use of the property. No variance may be granted to increase the profitability of the property; because of personal inconvenience; because of construction errors; for personal economic gain; because of self-created hardships; or if the present use of the property is nonconforming. Specifically:
[1]
The hardship or difficulty shall be peculiar to the subject property and different from that of other properties and not one which affects all properties similarly. Such a hardship or difficulty shall have arisen because of the unusual shape of the original acreage parcel; unusual topography or elevation; or because the property was created before the passage of the current, applicable zoning regulations, and is not economically suitable for a permitted use or will not accommodate a structure of reasonable design for a permitted use if all area, yard, green space, and setback requirements are observed.
[a]
Loss of profit or pecuniary hardship shall not, in and of itself, be grounds for a variance.
[b]
Self-imposed hardship shall not be grounds for a variance. Reductions resulting from the sale of portions of a property reducing the remainder of said property below buildable size or cutting off existing access to a public right-of-way or deed restrictions imposed by the owner's predecessor in title are considered to be such self-imposed hardships.
[c]
Violations by, or variances granted to, neighboring properties shall not justify a variance.
[d]
The alleged hardship shall not be one that would have existed in the absence of a zoning ordinance; for example, if a lot were unbuildable because of topography in the absence of any or all setback requirements.
[2]
In what manner the factors identified above prohibit the development of the subject property in a manner similar to that of other properties under the same zoning district. The report shall clearly indicate how the requested variance is essential to make the subject property developable so that property rights enjoyed by the owners of similar properties can be enjoyed by the owners of the subject property.
[3]
Whether the granting of the proposed variance would be of substantial detriment to adjacent properties. The report shall clearly indicate how the proposed variance will have no substantial impact on adjacent properties.
[4]
Whether the granting of the proposed variance as depicted on the required site plan would result in a substantial or undue adverse impact on the character of the neighborhood, environmental factors, traffic factors, parking, public improvements, public property or rights-of-way, or other matters affecting the public health, safety, or general welfare, either as they now exist or as they may in the future be developed as a result of the implementation of the intent, provisions, and policies of this chapter, the Comprehensive Plan, or any other plan, program, map, or ordinance adopted or under consideration pursuant to official notice by the Village or other governmental agency having jurisdiction to guide growth and development. The report shall clearly indicate how the proposed variance will have no substantial impact on such long-range planning matters.
[5]
Whether the factors that present the reason for the proposed variance have been created by the act of the applicant or previous property owner or his agent (for example: previous development decisions such as building placement, floor plan or orientation, lot pattern, or grading) after the effective date of this chapter. The report shall clearly indicate that such factors existed prior to the effective date of this chapter and were not created by action of the applicant, a previous property owner, or his agent.
(b)
Requests for other determinations by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Zoning Administrator shall review and provide comments regarding the action appealed from or other request for the exercise of the Board of Appeals' powers under Subsection B. The Zoning Administrator shall transmit to the Board of Appeals all the papers constituting the record upon which the action appealed from was taken.
D.
Review, public hearing and determination by Zoning Board of Appeals.
(1)
Within 30 days after filing of the complete application, the Zoning Board of Appeals shall hold a public hearing.
(2)
The Clerk shall publish a Class 2 notice of public hearing for the requested variance or other application. Said notice shall contain a description of the subject property and the proposed variance or other determination requested. At least 10 days before said public hearing, the Village shall mail a notice of the application to the applicant; to the clerk of any municipality whose boundaries are within 1,000 feet of any portion of the subject property; and to all property owners within 300 feet of the boundaries of the subject property. Failure to mail said notice, provided that it is unintentional, shall not invalidate proceedings under this section.
(3)
Area and use variance and unnecessary hardship.
(a)
In this section, "area variance" means a modification to a dimensional, physical, or locational requirement such as a setback, frontage, height, bulk, or density restriction for a structure, and "use variance" means an authorization by the Board of Appeals for the use of land for a purpose that is otherwise not allowed or is prohibited by the applicable zoning provision.
(b)
A property owner bears the burden of proving "unnecessary hardship," as that term is used in this section, for an area variance, by demonstrating that strict compliance with a zoning ordinance would unreasonably prevent the property owner from using the property owner's property for a permitted purpose or would render conformity with this chapter unnecessarily burdensome or, for a use variance, by demonstrating that strict compliance with a zoning ordinance would leave the property owner with no reasonable use of the property in the absence of a variance. In all circumstances, a property owner bears the burden of proving that the unnecessary hardship is based on conditions unique to the property, rather than considerations personal to the property owner, and that the unnecessary hardship was not created by the property owner.
(4)
Within 30 days after the holding of the public hearing, the Zoning Board of Appeals shall make its findings pursuant to this section and its determination regarding the application as a whole. The Zoning Board of Appeals may request further information and/or additional reports from the Zoning Administrator, another Village department, and/or the applicant. The Zoning Board of Appeals may take final action on said request for approval of the requested variance or other determination at the time of its initial meeting or said proceedings may be continued from time to time for further consideration. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall make a written report of its findings and determinations following its action. If a quorum is present, a majority vote of the members present shall be necessary to reverse any order, requirement, decision or determination appealed from or to decide in favor of the applicant on any matter on which it is required to pass or to effect any variation in the requirements of this chapter. In exercising its powers, the Board of Appeals may, in appropriate cases, establish suitable conditions and safeguards in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this chapter.
E.
Effect of denial. No application for a variance or other determination which has been denied (either wholly or in part) shall be resubmitted for a period of 12 months from the date of said order of denial, except on grounds of new evidence or proof of change of factors found valid by the Zoning Administrator.
F.
Limited effect of a variance. Where the Zoning Board of Appeals has granted a variance, such approval shall neither change the use classification of the building or premises nor give it any status as a nonconforming use other than that which it has as a result of the variance. Granting of a variance shall be considered as unique to the variance granted and shall not be construed as precedent for any other proposed variance. The Board of Appeals may specify an expiration date for the variance if that date relates to a specific date by which the action authorized by the variance must be commenced or completed. If the Board of Appeals does not specify such an expiration date, the variance does not expire. The variance runs with the land.
G.
Stay of proceedings. Pursuant to Wis. Stats. § 62.23(7)(e)5, an application for a variance shall stay all legal proceedings furthering enforcement of any provisions of this chapter from which the applicant is requesting a variance, unless the Zoning Administrator certifies to the Zoning Board of Appeals after the request for the variance has been filed that, by reason of the facts stated in the certificate, a stay would, in his opinion, cause imminent peril to life or property. In such case proceedings shall not be stayed otherwise than by a restraining order which may be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals or by a court of record on application, on notice to the Zoning Administrator, and on due cause shown.
H.
Variances and other actions in floodplain districts. For all variances, appeals and boundary disputes in floodplain districts, the Board of Appeals shall act pursuant to Chapter 256, specifically §§ 256-7C and D.
I.
Notice to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall transmit a copy of each application for a variance in the Floodplain or Shoreland-Wetland Overlay Zoning District and a copy of all floodplain or shoreland-wetland appeals to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for review and comment at least 10 days prior to any public hearing. Final action on the application shall not be taken for 30 days or until the DNR has made its recommendation, whichever comes first. A copy of all decisions relating to variances to floodplain or shoreland-wetland regulations, and a copy of all decisions on floodplain or shoreland-wetland appeals, shall be transmitted to the DNR within 10 days of the date of such decision.
J.
Any person aggrieved by any decision of the Board of Appeals, or any taxpayer or officer, department, board or bureau of the Village may, within 30 days after the filing of the decision in the office of the Board of Appeals, but not thereafter, present to a court of competent jurisdiction a petition, duly verified, setting forth that such decision is illegal, in whole or in part, specifying the grounds of illegality, whereupon such decision of the Board shall be subject to review as provided by law.