The purpose of this portion of the article is to establish the
procedural requirements for zoning text amendments, Zoning Map amendments,
conditional use review and approval, temporary use review and approval,
sign permits, site plan review and approval, certificates of occupancy,
variances, zoning provision interpretations by the Zoning Administrator
and appeals of zoning provision interpretations to the Zoning Board
of Appeals.
The purpose of this portion of the article is to establish the
administrative and enforcement framework for the application of this
chapter.
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall have the power and duty to review and determine all matters relating to requested variances from the provisions of this chapter (see §
250-129) or appeals regarding an interpretation of the Zoning Administrator of the provisions of this chapter (see §§
250-130 and
250-131).
A. Establishment and membership. A Zoning Board of Appeals is hereby
established. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall consist of five members
appointed by the Village President, subject to confirmation by the
Village Board, for three years, except that, of those first appointed,
one shall serve for one year; two for two years. The members shall
serve without compensation 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 Chairman. The Village
President shall appoint, subject to confirmation of the Board, for
staggered terms of three years, two alternate members of such appeals
board, in addition to the five members above provided for. Annually,
the Village President 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
or declines to vote, is disqualified because of interest, or when
a member is absent. The second alternate shall so act when the first
alternate so refuses or declines to vote, is disqualified because
of interest, or is absent, or when more than one member so refuses
or declines, is disqualified, or is absent. Other provisions herein
appearing, with regard to removal and filling of vacancies, shall
apply to such alternates. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired
terms of members whose terms become vacant. Appointments shall be
made at the organizational meeting the third Tuesday in April. Terms
of office shall commence the first day of May. The Village Clerk shall
serve as secretary of the appeals board. The Board of Appeals may
employ other employees.
B. Organization.
(1)
The Board of Appeals shall adopt rules for its government and
procedure. Meetings of the Board of Appeals shall be held at the call
of the Chairman and at such other times as the Board of Appeals may
determine. The Chairman, or in his absence an elected Acting Chairman,
may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses. All meetings
shall be open to the public.
(2)
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, which is the Village
Clerk's office, and shall be a public record.
C. Powers.
(1)
The Board of Appeals shall have the following powers:
(a)
To hear and decide appeals when it is alleged there is error
in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the Zoning
Administrator.
(b)
To hear and decide special exceptions to the terms of this chapter
upon which the Board of Appeals is required to pass.
(c)
To authorize, upon appeal in specific cases, such variance from
the terms of this chapter as will not be contrary to the public interest,
when owing to special conditions a literal enforcement will result
in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship, so that the spirit
of the chapter shall be observed, public safety and welfare secured,
and substantial justice done.
(d)
Permit, in appropriate cases and subject to appropriate conditions
and safeguards in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this
chapter, 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 and welfare.
(2)
In exercising the above-listed powers, 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 the powers
of the Zoning Administrator or other administrative officer from whom
the appeal is taken. The concurring vote of four members of the Board
of Appeals 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.
(3)
In addition to the foregoing powers, the Board of Appeals shall
have the following specific powers:
(a)
To interpret the provisions of this chapter in such a way as
to carry out the intent and purpose of the plan, as shown on the Zoning
Map accompanying and made a part of this chapter, where the street
layout actually on the ground varies from the street layout on the
aforesaid map.
(b)
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.
(4)
Except as specifically provided, no action of the Board of Appeals
shall have the effect of permitting in any district uses prohibited
in such districts.
D. Appeals. Appeals to the Board of Appeals may be taken by any person
aggrieved or by any officer, department, board or bureau of the Village
of Johnson Creek affected by any decision of the administrative officers.
Such appeal shall be taken within a reasonable time, as provided by
the rules of the Board of Appeals, by filing with the officer(s) from
whom the appeal is taken and with the Board of Appeals a notice of
appeal specifying the grounds thereof, together with payment of a
filing fee as may be established by the Village Board. The officer(s)
from whom the appeal is taken shall forthwith transmit to the Board
of Appeals all papers constituting the record of appeals upon which
the action appealed from was taken. The Board of Appeals shall fix
a reasonable time for the hearing of appeals and give public notice
thereof as well as due notice to the parties in interest and shall
decide the same within a reasonable time.
E. Notice of hearing. The Board of Appeals shall fix a reasonable time
and place for the hearing, cause notice thereof to be published in
the official newspaper not less than seven days prior thereto, cause
notice to be given to the appellant or applicant and the administrative
officer(s) appealed from by regular mail or by personal service not
less than five days prior to the date of hearing. In every case involving
a variance, notice shall also be mailed not less than five days prior
to the hearing to the fee owners of record of all land within 300
feet of any part of the subject building or premises involved in the
appeal.
F. Hearings. Hearings on appeals shall be public and shall be conducted
according to the rules of procedure adopted by the Board. At the hearing,
the appellant or applicant may appear in person, by agent or by attorney.
Deliberations of the Board following public hearing may be made either
in public or closed session, as the Board shall determine, pursuant
to § 19.85, Wis. Stats. Decisions of the Zoning Board will
be made in public session.
G. Findings.
(1)
Findings of fact and reasons for all actions taken shall be
reduced by the Board to writing in the minutes of the proceedings.
(2)
In the case of an appeal for a variance, an affirmative finding
shall show the following, together with the facts and the grounds
therefor:
(a)
A literal enforcement of the terms of the Zoning Code would
result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship to the appellant.
(b)
The variance is not contrary to the public interest and will
not endanger public safety.
(c)
The variance is in accord with the spirit of the Zoning Code.
(d)
The variance will cause substantial justice to be done.
(3)
Additional issues to be considered by the Board in case of appeal
based on variance, in arriving at its reasons and grounds for the
above required findings, are the following:
(a)
Preservation of intent. No variance shall be granted that is
not consistent with the purpose and intent of the regulations for
the district in which the development is located. No variance shall
have the effect of permitting a use in any district that is not a
stated permitted use, accessory use, or conditional use in that particular
district.
(b)
Exceptional circumstances. There may be exceptional, extraordinary
or unusual circumstances or conditions applying to the lot or parcel,
structure, use or intended use that do not apply generally to other
properties or uses in the same district, and the granting of the variance
would not be of so general recurrent nature as to suggest that the
Zoning Code should be changed.
(c)
Economic hardship and self-imposed hardship not grounds for
variance. No variance shall be granted solely on the basis of economic
gain or loss. Self-imposed hardships shall not be considered as grounds
for the granting of a variance.
(d)
Preservation of property rights. Such variance may be necessary
for the preservation and enjoyment of substantial property rights
possessed by other properties in the same district and same vicinity.
(e)
Absence of detriment. Such variance should not create substantial
detriment to adjacent property and shall not materially impair or
be contrary to the purpose and spirit of this chapter or the public
interest.
(4)
Additional requirements in floodland districts. See Article
VI, Natural Resource Protection Regulations.
H. Wetland and floodland mapping disputes. See Article
VI, Natural Resource Protection Regulations.
I. Decision. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall decide all appeals and
applications within 30 days after the public hearing and shall transmit
a signed copy of the Board's decision to the appellant or applicant,
Zoning Administrator, and Village Plan Commission.
(1)
Conditions may be placed upon any zoning permit ordered or authorized
by this Board.
(2)
Variances, substitutions or use permits granted by the Board
shall expire within 12 months unless substantial work has commenced
pursuant to such grant.
(3)
Applicants receiving variances in floodlands shall be notified,
in writing, by the Board of Appeals that increased flood insurance
premiums and risk to life or property may result from the granting
of the variance. The Board shall keep a record of the notification
in its files.
K. Review by court of record. Any persons aggrieved by any decisions
of the Board of Appeals may present to a court of record a petition,
duly verified, setting forth that such decision is illegal and specifying
the grounds of the illegality. Such petition shall be presented to
the court within 30 days after the filing of the decision in the offices
of the Board.
[Amended 9-28-2009 by Ord. No. 13-09]
A. Fees for procedures requested by a private party. The fees for the
procedures and permits established by this chapter shall be established
by resolution of the Village Board of the Village of Johnson Creek.
B. Fees for procedures requested by the Village of Johnson Creek. There
shall be no fee in the case of applications filed in the public interest
by the Village Board or the Plan Commission, other agency, or official
of the Village of Johnson Creek.
C. Payment of fees. Fees shall be payable at the time applications are
filed with the appropriate officer of the Village (per the requirements
of this chapter) and are not refundable.
D. Reimbursable costs. The Village Administrator, Village Zoning Administrator, Village Planner, Village Engineer and Village Attorney, and other Village staff, may expend time in the investigation and processing of conditional use applications (§
250-124), site plan review and supplemental regulations (§
250-127), and Zoning Ordinance amendments (§
250-121). In addition to Village staff involvement, the Village may retain the services of professional consultants, including but not limited to engineers, landscape architects, architects, attorneys, environmental specialists, and recreation specialists, in the administration, investigation and processing of such matters. Any person, firm or corporation requesting action by the Village on conditional use permits, permits pursuant to the supplemental regulations and Zoning Ordinance amendments may be required, with Village Board approval, to reimburse the Village for staff time expended in the administration, investigation and processing of applications for such permits or amendments and the cost to the Village charged by any professional consultant retained by the Village on any such matter. Notice shall be sent to the property owner or representative of the property owner informing them of the Village policy on reimbursement costs.