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City of Ozark, MO
Christian County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Ord. No. 09-012 §1, 4-6-2009]
The Board of Aldermen may, from time to time, in the manner hereinafter set forth, amend the regulations imposed in the districts created by this Chapter, amend district boundary lines, provide that in all amendatory orders adopted under the authority of this Section, due allowance shall be made for existing conditions, the conservation of property values, the direction of building development to the best advantage of the entire community and the uses to which property is devoted at the time of the adoption of such amendatory order.
[Ord. No. 09-012 §1, 4-6-2009]
The property owner or a representative of property owner (other than an employee of the City) must be present at the meeting when their respective matter comes before the Planning and Zoning Commission. If such owner or representative fails to appear at said meeting, action by the Planning and Zoning Commission shall be postponed to its next regular meeting. If such owner or representative fails to attend either of the two (2) meetings on which the matter appears on the agenda, then such matter shall be denied without further postponement or hearing. Any costs (such as publication costs for public hearings or other such expenses) that result from the postponement of a matter due to the failure of an applicant to attend the regular meeting shall be borne by the property owner.
[Ord. No. 09-012 §1, 4-6-2009]
A. 
This Chapter shall be amended in the following manner:
1. 
An application for an amendment to this Chapter shall be filed with the administrative officer in such form and accompanied by such information as required by the administrative officer. The administrative officer, upon requiring an application for amendment, shall transmit one (1) copy of such application, along with all pertinent data filed therewith, to the following agencies and/or legal entities for their review and written recommendations, protests or comments:
a. 
Planning and Zoning Commission.
b. 
Board of Aldermen.
2. 
A fee shall be charged for each application filed as established by the Planning and Development Department. (See Section 405.490.)
[Ord. No. 09-012 §1, 4-6-2009; Ord. No. 10-038 §3, 12-6-2010]
A. 
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall hold a public hearing on each application for an amendment at such time and place as shall be established by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The hearing shall be conducted and a record of such proceedings shall be preserved in such manner as the Planning and Zoning Commission shall, by rule, prescribe from time to time.
B. 
Notice of time and place of such hearing shall be published at least once in a newspaper of local distribution not less than fifteen (15) days before such hearing. Supplemental or additional notices may be published or distributed as the Board of Aldermen may, by rule, prescribe from time to time.
C. 
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall make written findings of fact and shall submit same together with its recommendations to the Board of Aldermen prior to the public hearing. Where the purpose and effect of the proposed amendment is to change the zoning classification of particular property, the Planning and Zoning Commission shall make findings based upon the evidence presented to it in each specific case with respect to the following matters:
1. 
Relatedness of the proposed amendment to goals and outlines of the City of Ozark's Comprehensive Plan.
2. 
Existing uses of property within the general area of the property in question.
3. 
The zoning classification of property within the general area of the property in question.
4. 
The suitability of the property in question to the uses permitted under the existing zoning classification.
5. 
The trend of development, if any, in the general area of the property in question, including changes, if any, which have taken place in its present zoning classification.
D. 
The Board of Aldermen shall not act upon a proposed amendment to the ordinance until it shall have received a written report and recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission on the proposed amendment.
E. 
In case, however, of a protest against such change duly signed and acknowledged by the owners of thirty percent (30%) or more, either of the areas of the land (exclusive of streets and alleys) included in such proposed change or within an area determined by lines drawn parallel to and one hundred eighty-five (185) feet distant from the boundaries of the district proposed to be changed, such amendment shall not become effective except by the favorable vote of two-thirds (⅔) of all the members of the Board of Aldermen.
[Ord. No. 09-012 §1, 4-6-2009; Ord. No. 10-022 §1, 7-6-2010]
A. 
Any applicant desiring a change in zoning classification of any particular real estate shall provide the following information:
1. 
Legal description of the property involved.
2. 
The name of the person, firm or organization holding title to such real estate.
3. 
The street address of such real estate, and if there is no street address, a sufficient description of the location of said real estate to enable the ordinary person to determine its location.
4. 
The zoning change requested.
B. 
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall hold a public hearing on each application for the establishment of a zoning classification or a change in zoning classification at such time and place as shall be established by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Notice of such hearing shall be published at least once in a newspaper of local distribution not less than fifteen (15) days before such hearing. Commencing not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the aforementioned hearing the applicant for such zoning change shall cause signs which shall be provided by the City to be placed on all sides of the property for which the zoning change is requested, said signs to be clearly and conspicuously displayed. A deposit of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be required for said signs.
C. 
Any applicant desiring a change in zoning classification of any particular real estate shall send to all of those persons who own property within one hundred eighty-five (185) feet of the property that is sought to be rezoned, as those owners are listed on the County's tax rolls, via certified United States mail, the same notice required by Section 405.850(B).
D. 
Proof that proper notification, as required, including certified return receipts, shall be upon the sworn, written affidavit of the administrative officer and the citizen, organization or governmental body requesting the zoning change, filed with the report of the Planning and Zoning Commission to the Board of Aldermen.
[Ord. No. 09-012 §1, 4-6-2009]
A. 
Appeal From Administrative Order. The Board of Adjustment 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 of the applicable zoning provisions of this Chapter.
B. 
When Appeals May Be Taken. An appeal may be taken to the Board of Adjustment by any person aggrieved or by an officer, department, board or agency of the City of Ozark affected by a decision of an administrative official. An appeal must be made within fifteen (15) days after the date of the decision or order appealed. Appeals shall be taken by filing with the City Clerk a written notice of appeal specifying the grounds for the appeal. The City Clerk shall enter the date of filing on the notice of appeal and shall transmit to the Chair of the Board of Adjustment the notice of appeal and all papers and materials constituting the record upon which the action appealed from was taken.
C. 
When Appeals To Stay Proceedings. A notice of appeal properly filed as herein provided shall stay all proceedings in furtherance of the action appealed from, unless the officer from whom the appeal is taken certifies to the Board of Adjustment, after the notice of appeal has been filed, that by reason of acts stated in the certificate a stay would, in the opinion of the officer, 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 Board of Adjustment or by a proper court order.
[Ord. No. 09-012 §1, 4-6-2009]
A. 
Board of Adjustment decision on appeals:
1. 
A motion to reverse, affirm or modify the order, requirement or decision appealed from shall include, so far as practical, a written statement of the specific reasons or findings of fact that support the motion. The concurring vote of four (4) members of the Board of Adjustment shall be necessary to reverse any order, requirement or decision or to decide in favor of the applicant on any matter upon which it is required to pass.
2. 
Within thirty (30) days after the hearing on an appeal, the Board of Adjustment shall file with the City its findings of fact and decision with respect to the appeal. The City Clerk shall transmit by mail a copy of the decision to the appellant and to each other person who requests in writing to be notified.
[Ord. No. 09-012 §1, 4-6-2009]
A. 
Jurisdiction And Authority. The Board of Adjustment shall exercise the authority to vary the strict or literal terms of the applicable zoning provisions of this Title. A variance is the remedy created by this power and is part of the Board's appellate jurisdiction. It is a discretionary privilege which is granted because strict and literal enforcement of certain provisions of this Chapter would, due to special conditions peculiar to a particular property result, in unusual difficulty or hardship.
B. 
Authorized Variances. Variances from the zoning regulations and restrictions contained in this Chapter may be granted by the Board of Adjustment in the following instances:
1. 
A variance of the applicable bulk regulations for buildings and structures, including maximum height, lot coverage, floor area ratio, required yard areas and other required open space.
2. 
A variance of the applicable minimum requirements for lot size, width and depth and setbacks from lot lines.
3. 
A variance of the applicable off-street parking and off-street loading requirements and ratios.
4. 
A variance of the landscaping and buffer yard requirements.
C. 
Standards For Grant Of Variance. The Board of Adjustment may grant a variance if it concludes that strict enforcement of the ordinance would result in practical difficulties or undue hardship for the applicant and, by granting the variance, the spirit of the ordinance will be observed, public safety and welfare will be secured and substantial justice will be done. The Board of Adjustment may reach these conclusions if it finds in writing that:
1. 
The particular physical surroundings, shape or topographical condition of the specific property involved would result in undue hardship upon the owner as distinguished from a mere inconvenience if the strict letter of the regulations were carried out;
2. 
The conditions of which the applicant complains is one suffered by the applicant and would not be applicable to other property in the same zoning classification;
3. 
The property in question cannot yield a reasonable return or the applicant cannot make reasonable use of his property if strict compliance with the regulations is required;
4. 
The hardship relates to the applicant's land, rather than personal circumstances;
5. 
The alleged hardship has not been created by any person presently having an interest in the property;
6. 
The granting of the variance will not be detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to other property or improvements in the area in which the property is located; and
7. 
The variance will not nullify the intent and purpose of the Ozark Comprehensive Plan.
D. 
Application For Variance. An application for a variance shall be submitted to the City Clerk. The City Clerk shall transmit the application and all papers and materials constituting the record to the Board of Adjustment.
E. 
Hearing On Variances. The Board of Adjustment shall hold a public hearing on any application for variance in accordance with the Missouri State Statutes.
[Ord. No. 09-012 §1, 4-6-2009]
A. 
The affirmative vote of four (4) members of the Board shall be required on each separate finding. Insofar as is practical, a motion to make an affirmative finding on each of the requirements shall include a written statement of the specific reasons or findings of fact supporting the motion.
B. 
A motion to deny a variance may be made on the basis that any one (1) or more of the seven (7) requirements set forth in this Chapter are not satisfied or that the application is incomplete. Such motion, insofar as is practical, shall include a written statement of the specific reasons or findings of fact that support the motion. A motion to deny a variance is adopted as the Board of Adjustment's decision if supported by more than one (1) affirmative vote.
C. 
In granting a variance, the Board of Adjustment may impose such reasonable conditions to ensure that the use of the property to which the variance applies will be as compatible as practical with surrounding properties.
D. 
A variance may be issued for a specified or indefinite duration.
E. 
The nature of the variance shall be entered upon the permit. All such conditions are enforceable in the same manner as any applicable requirement of this Chapter.
[Ord. No. 09-012 §1, 4-6-2009]
Any person or persons jointly or severally aggrieved by any decision of the Board of Adjustment, any neighborhood organization as defined in Section 32.105, RSMo., representing such person or persons or any officer, department, board or bureau of this City may present to the Circuit Court of the County or City in which the property affected is located a petition, duly verified, setting forth that such decision is illegal, in whole or in part, specifying the grounds of the illegality. Such petition shall be presented to the court within thirty (30) days after the filing of the decision in the office of the Board. Upon the presentation of such petition, the court may allow a writ of certiorari directed to the Board of Adjustment to review such decision of the Board of Adjustment and shall prescribe therein the time within which a return thereto must be made and served upon the relator's attorney, which shall not be less than ten (10) days and may be extended by the court. The allowance of the writ shall not stay proceedings upon the decision appealed from, but the court may, on application, on notice to the Board and on due cause shown, grant a restraining order. The Board of Adjustment shall not be required to return the original papers acted upon by it, but it shall be sufficient to return certified or sworn copies thereof or of such portions thereof as may be called for by such writ. The return shall concisely set forth such other facts as may be pertinent and material to show the grounds of the decision appealed from and shall be verified. If, upon the hearing, it shall appear to the court that testimony is necessary for the proper disposition of the matter, it may take additional evidence or appoint a referee to take such evidence as it may direct and report the same to the court with his/her findings of fact and conclusions of law, which shall constitute a part of the proceedings upon which a determination of the court shall be made. The court may reverse or affirm, wholly or partly, or may modify the decision brought up for review. Costs shall not be allowed against the Board unless it shall appear to the court that it acted with gross negligence or in bad faith or with malice in making the decision appealed from. All issues in any proceedings under Sections 89.080 to 89.110, RSMo., shall have preference over all other civil actions and proceedings.