[Ord. No. 233, 9-9-2008]
The Board of Aldermen shall provide for the appointment of a Board of Adjustment, and in the regulations and restrictions adopted pursuant to the authority of this Chapter, may provide that the Board of Adjustment may determine and vary their application in harmony with their general purpose and intent and in accordance with general or specific rules therein contained. The Board of Adjustment shall consist of five (5) members, who shall be residents of the municipality except as provided in Section 305.410, RSMo. The membership of the first board appointed shall serve respectively, one (1) for one (1) year, one (1) for two (2) years, one (1) for three (3) years, one (1) for four (4) years, and one (1) for five (5) years. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for terms of five (5) years each. Three (3) alternate members may be appointed to serve in the absence of or the disqualification of the regular members. All members and alternates shall be removable for cause by the Board of Aldermen upon written charges and after public hearing. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term of any member whose term becomes vacant. The board shall elect its own Chairman who shall serve for one (1) year.
[Ord. No. 233, 9-9-2008]
The Board of Adjustment shall adopt rules in accordance with the provisions of any ordinance adopted pursuant to this Chapter. Meetings of the Board shall be held at the call of the Chairman and at such other times as the Board may determine. Such Chairman or, in his/her absence, the Acting Chairman may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses. All meetings of the Board shall be open to the public. The Board shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon 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 and shall be a public record. All testimony, objections thereto and rulings thereon, shall be taken down by a reporter employed by the Board for that purpose.
[Ord. No. 233, 9-9-2008]
Appeals to the Board of Adjustment may be taken by any person aggrieved, by any neighborhood organization as defined in Section 32.105, RSMo., representing such person, or by any officer, department, board or bureau of the City affected by any decision of the administrative officer. Such appeal shall be taken within a reasonable time, as provided by the rules of the Board, by filing with the officer from whom the appeal is taken and with the Board of Adjustment a notice of appeal specifying the grounds thereof. The officer from whom the appeal is taken shall forthwith transmit to the Board all the papers constituting the record upon which the action appealed from was taken. An appeal stays 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 shall have been filed with him/her that by reason of facts stated in the certificate a stay would, in his/her opinion, cause immediate 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 court of record on application or notice to the officer from whom the appeal is taken and on due cause shown. The Board of Adjustment shall fix a reasonable time for the hearing of the appeal, give public notice thereof, as well as due notice to the parties in interest, and decide the same within a reasonable time. Upon the hearing, any party may appear in person or by agent or by attorney.
[Ord. No. 233, 9-9-2008]
A. 
The Board of Adjustment shall have the following powers:
1. 
To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is an error in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by the Zoning Administrator in the enforcement of this Chapter, and may affirm or reverse, in whole or part, said decisions of the Zoning Administrator.
2. 
To hear requests for variances from the literal provisions of this Chapter in instances where strict enforcement of this Chapter would cause undue hardship due to circumstances unique to the individual property under consideration, and grant such variances only when it is demonstrated that such action will be in keeping with the spirit and intent of the provisions of this Chapter. The Board of Adjustment shall not permit, as a variance, any use in a district that is not permitted under the Chapter. The Board of Adjustment may impose conditions in the granting of a variance to ensure compliance and to protect adjacent property.
3. 
To hold public hearings on and decide the following exceptions to or variations of this Chapter:
a. 
To permit the extension of a district where the boundary line thereof divides a lot held in a single ownership at the time of adoption of this Chapter.
b. 
Interpret the provisions of this Chapter in such a way as to carry out the intent and purpose of the plan, as shown upon the Zoning District Map, where the street layout on the ground varies from the street layout as shown on this map.
c. 
Permit reconstruction of a nonconforming building otherwise prohibited by Article IX of this Chapter where such action would not constitute continuation of a monopoly.
d. 
Vary the yard regulations where there is an exceptional or unusual physical condition of a lot, net generally prevalent in the neighborhood, which condition when related to the yard regulations of this Chapter would prevent a reasonable or sensible arrangement of buildings on the lot.
e. 
Vary the parking regulations by not more than fifty percent (50%) where it is conclusively shown that the specific use of a building would make unnecessary the parking spaces otherwise required by this Chapter, or where it can be conclusively shown that adequate off-street parking to serve a particular use has been provided by or is controlled by the municipality.
[Ord. No. 233, 9-9-2008]
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 the municipality, 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.