The Board of Appeals created under § 62.23(7)(e),
Wis. Stats., is hereby authorized to act for the purposes of this
chapter. The Board of Appeals shall exercise the powers conferred
by the Wisconsin Statutes and adopt rules for the conduct of business.
The Zoning Administrator may not be the Secretary of the Board of
Appeals:
A. Powers and duties.
(1) Appeals. The Board of Appeals shall hear and decide appeals where
it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision or
determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement
or administration of this chapter.
(2) Boundary disputes. The Board of Appeals shall hear and decide disputes
concerning the district boundaries shown on the official floodplain
zoning map.
(3) Variances. The Board of Appeals shall hear and decide, upon appeal,
variances from the standards of this chapter.
B. Appeals to the Board.
(1) Eligible parties. Appeals to the Board of Appeals may be taken by
any person aggrieved or by any officer or department of the Village
of Kimberly affected by any decision of the Zoning Administrator or
other administrative officer. Such appeal shall be taken within 30
days, unless otherwise provided by the rules of the Board, by filing
with the official whose decision is in question and with the Board
of Appeals a notice of appeal specifying the reasons for the appeal.
The official whose decision is in question shall transmit to the Board
of Appeals all records regarding the matter appealed.
(2) Notice and hearing for appeals including variances.
(a)
Notice. The Board of Appeals shall:
[1]
Fix a reasonable time for the hearing;
[2]
Publish adequate notice pursuant to the Wisconsin Statutes,
specifying the date, time, place and subject of the hearing; and
[3]
Assure that notice shall be mailed to the parties in interest
and the Department's regional office at least 10 days in advance
of the hearing.
(b)
Hearing. Any party may appear in person or by agent or attorney.
The Board of Appeals shall:
[1]
Resolve boundary disputes according to Subsection
C below.
[2]
Decide variance applications according to Subsection
D below.
[3]
Decide appeals of permit denials according to §
495-27.
(3) Decision. The final decision regarding the appeal or variance application
shall:
(a)
Be made within a reasonable time;
(b)
Be sent to the Department's regional office within 10 days
of the decision;
(c)
Be a written determination signed by the Chairperson or Secretary
of the Board of Appeals;
(d)
State the specific facts which are the basis for the Board's
decision;
(e)
Either affirm, reverse, vary or modify the order, requirement,
decision or determination appealed, in whole or in part, dismiss the
appeal for lack of jurisdiction, or grant or deny the variance application;
and
(f)
Include the reasons for granting an appeal, describing the hardship
demonstrated by the applicant in the case of a variance, clearly stated
in the recorded minutes of the Board of Appeals' proceedings.
C. Boundary disputes. The following procedure shall be used by the Board
of Appeals in hearing disputes concerning floodplain district boundaries:
(1) If a floodplain district boundary is established by approximate or
detailed floodplain studies, the flood elevations or profiles shall
prevail in locating the boundary. If none exist, other evidence may
be examined.
(2) In all cases, the person contesting the boundary location shall be
given a reasonable opportunity to present arguments and technical
evidence to the Board of Appeals.
(3) If the boundary is incorrectly mapped, the Board of Appeals should inform the Plan Commission or the person contesting the boundary location to petition the governing body for a map amendment according to §§
495-30 and
495-31.
D. Variances.
(1) The Board of Appeals may, upon appeal, grant a variance from the
standards of this chapter if an applicant convincingly demonstrates
that:
(a)
Literal enforcement of the chapter's provisions will cause
unnecessary hardship;
(b)
The hardship is due to adoption of the floodplain ordinance
and unique property conditions not common to adjacent lots or premises.
In such cases this chapter or map must be amended;
(c)
The variance is not contrary to the public interest; and
(d)
The variance is consistent with the purpose of this chapter in §
495-3.
(2) In addition to the criteria in Subsection
D(1), to qualify for a variance under FEMA regulations, the following criteria must be met:
(a)
The variance may not cause any increase in the regional flood
elevation;
(b)
Variances can only be granted for lots that are less than 1/2
acre and are contiguous to existing structures constructed below the
RFE; and
(c)
Variances shall only be granted upon a showing of good and sufficient
cause, shall be the minimum relief necessary, shall not cause increased
risks to public safety or nuisances, shall not increase costs for
rescue and relief efforts, and shall not be contrary to the purpose
of this chapter.
(3) A variance shall not:
(a)
Grant, extend or increase any use prohibited in the zoning district.
(b)
Be granted for a hardship based solely on an economic gain or
loss.
(c)
Be granted for a hardship which is self-created.
(d)
Damage the rights or property values of other persons in the
area.
(e)
Allow actions without the amendments to this chapter or map(s) required in §
495-30.
(f)
Allow any alteration of an historic structure, including its
use, which would preclude its continued designation as an historic
structure.
(4) When a floodplain variance is granted, the Board of Appeals shall
notify the applicant in writing that it may increase flood insurance
premiums and risks to life and property. A copy shall be maintained
with the variance record.