[Ord. No. 2470, 11-13-2018]
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 Article shall be construed to mean
the Board of Adjustment.
B.
The Board shall consist of five (5) members, who shall be residents
of the City to be appointed by the Mayor with consent of the Governing
Body. No member shall hold any other public office except that one
(1) member shall be a member of the Planning Commission. Membership
of the first (1st) Board shall be appointed as follows: The membership
of the first (1st) 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 appointing authority
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
the ordinance. 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
a 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. 2470, 11-13-2018]
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
City of Richmond 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/her
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 the 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 Article.
2.
To hear and decide all matters referred to it or upon which
such Board is required to pass under this Article.
3.
In passing upon appeals, where there are practical difficulties
or unnecessary hardship in the way of carrying out the strict letter
of such ordinance, to vary or modify the application of any of the
regulations or provisions of such regulations relating to the use,
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 Article, 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 Article, 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.
A 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 Article,
or to effect any variation in this Article.
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 City may present to the Circuit
Court 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 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.
[Ord. No. 2470, 11-13-2018]
A.
At least fifteen (15) days' notice of the time and place of
hearings on appeals and variances to the Board shall be published
in a paper of general circulation in the City.
B.
Within five (5) days of the filing of an appeal to the Board of Zoning
Adjustment, the applicant shall place a sign in a conspicuous location
on the lot or street on which the appeal is requested. Said sign shall
be of a type which will withstand the elements, no less than two and
one-half (2 1/2) feet by three (3) feet in size stating that
an appeal for variance has been filed with the Board of Zoning Adjustment
and the time and place set by the Board for hearing of the matter.
