[Ord. No. 183, 6-18-1979]
A. 
A Board of Adjustment is hereby established in accordance with the provisions of the Missouri Statutes regarding the Zoning of Cities. The word "Board" when used in this Chapter shall be construed to mean the Board of Adjustment.
B. 
The Board shall consist of five (5) members, who shall be residents of the municipality, said members to be appointed by the governing body. 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 alternative members may be appointed to serve in the absence of or the disqualification of the regular members. All members and alternatives shall be removable for cause 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.
C. 
The Board shall adopt rules in accordance with the provisions of 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 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, and shall be public record. All testimony, objections thereto, and rulings thereon shall be taken down by a reporter employed by the Board for that purpose. The presence of three (3) members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum.
[Ord. No. 183, 6-18-1979]
A. 
Appeals to the Board 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 municipality 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 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.
B. 
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 after the notice of appeal shall have been filed with him that by reason of facts that by reason of facts stated in the certificate a stay would, in his/her 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 Board or by a court of record on application or notice to the officer from whom the appeal is taken and on due cause shown.
C. 
The Board 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.
D. 
The Board shall have the following powers:
1. 
To 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 this Chapter.
2. 
To hear and decide all matters referred to it or upon which such matters referred to it or upon which such Board is required to pass under this Chapter.
3. 
In passing upon appeals, where there are practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship in the way of carrying out the strict letter of such Chapter, to vary or modify the application of any of the regulations or provisions of such Chapter relating to the construction or alteration of buildings or structures or the use of land so that the spirit of the ordinance shall be observed, public safety and welfare secured, and substantial justice done.
E. 
In exercising the above-mentioned powers, such Board may, in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter, reverse or affirm, wholly or partly, or may modify the order, requirements, decision or determination appealed from and may make such order, requirement, decision or determination as ought to be made, and to that end shall have all the powers of the officer from whom the appeal is taken, in considering all appeals under this Chapter, the Board shall before making any findings in a specific case, first determine that the proposed change will not constitute a change in the District Map and will not impair an adequate supply of light and air to adjacent property, or increase the congestion in public streets, or increase the public danger of fire and safety, or materially diminish or impair established property values within the surrounding area, or in any other respect impair the public health, safety, comfort, morals and welfare of the City. Every change granted or denied by the Board shall be accompanied by a written finding of fact specifying the reason for granting or denying the variation.
F. 
In concurring vote of four (4) members of the Board shall be necessary to reverse any order, requirement, decision, or determination of any such administrative official, or to decide in favor of the applicant on any matter upon which it is required to pass under this Chapter, or to effect any variation in this Chapter.
G. 
Any person or persons, jointly or severally aggrieved by any decision of the Board, 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.
H. 
Upon the presentation of such petition, the court may allow a writ of certiorari directed to the Board to review such decision of the Board 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.
I. 
The Board 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.
J. 
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 the findings of fact and conclusions of law, which shall constitute a part of the proceedings upon which the 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.
K. 
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.
L. 
All issues in any proceeding under this Section shall have preference over all other civil actions and proceedings.