[Amended 8-12-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-1; 11-18-2014 by Ord. No.
2014-2]
A. Office established. There is hereby established the Office of Zoning
Administrator. The Office shall be filled by a person appointed by
the County Commissioners. Any person appointed to the Office shall
be qualified by education, experience, or training to administer and
enforce the provisions of this chapter. Any person so appointed shall
maintain no interest in any matter which may be construed by the County
Commissioners to be in conflict with the duties and decisions of the
Office of Zoning Administrator.
B. Power and duties. The Zoning Administrator shall have the power to:
[Amended 6-12-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-3]
(1)
Interpret the provisions of this chapter.
(2)
Enforce the provisions of this chapter and issue all necessary
notices or orders to achieve compliance with said provisions.
(3)
Make any inspections required by this chapter or necessary to
enforce this chapter and engage the assistance of any person or agency
deemed necessary to make such inspection. This includes the authority
to make application for an administrative warrant with the consent
of the County Commissioners.
(4)
Establish application requirements and schedules for review
of applications and appeals and formulate and promulgate rules and
procedures. Such rules and procedures shall not conflict with, but
may be in addition to, those rules and procedures already included
in this chapter.
(5)
Make findings related to this chapter except for those expressly
reserved to the Planning Commission or Board of Zoning Appeals and
maintain a file for inspection by the public of findings and declaratory
rulings on issues of interpretation of this chapter.
(6)
Approve or disapprove applications for administrative variances
as authorized by this chapter and maintain a file for inspection by
the public of all administrative variances granted or denied under
the provisions of this chapter.
(7)
Approve or disapprove applications for administrative adjustments
as authorized by this chapter and maintain a file for inspection by
the public of all administrative adjustments granted or denied under
the provisions of this chapter.
(8)
Approve or disapprove applications for minor site plans and
subdivision under the provisions of this chapter.
(9)
Identify and process violations of this chapter including the
issuance of civil citations, cease-and-desist orders, orders of abatement
and other such legal actions necessary to achieve compliance with
this chapter.
(10)
Maintain all official records of applications, certificates,
fees, inspections, notices, orders and citations.
(11)
Receive, file and forward to the Board of Zoning Appeals all
applications for variances or other matters on which the Board is
required to review or approve under the provisions of this chapter.
(12)
Receive, file and forward to the Planning Commission all applications
for major subdivision, site plans or other matters which the Commission
is required to review or approve under the provisions of this chapter.
(13)
Assure compliance with and enforce the decisions of the Planning
Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.
(14)
Provide information to the public on matters relating to this
chapter.
(15)
Approve temporary uses as authorized by this chapter.
(16)
Initiate enforcement actions, with the approval of the County Commissioners, deemed necessary and appropriate to carry out the intent of the Zoning Code (Chapter
175) or the Subdivision Regulations (Chapter
162).
The Zoning Administrator or his duly authorized
agents have the right to enter and inspect any structure or land in
order to verify that the structure or land complies with the provisions
of this chapter. If the Zoning Administrator finds that any of the
provisions of this chapter are being violated, the Zoning Administrator
shall notify, by certified mail, the property owner and/or person
responsible for such violation. The notice shall indicate the nature
of the violation and order the action necessary to correct it within
a reasonable length of time. If, at the conclusion of said reasonable
length of time, the violation has not been satisfactorily corrected
in the judgment of the Zoning Administrator, the Zoning Administrator
shall order and seek appropriate action to bring about the correction
of such violation.
[Amended 6-12-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-3]
Whenever a violation of this chapter occurs
or is alleged to have occurred, any person may report the violation,
either verbally or in writing, to the Zoning Administrator. Complaints
shall be filed immediately in a permanent file by the Zoning Administrator,
who shall have the power to immediately investigate and take action
as provided by this chapter.
The County Commissioners, the County Attorney,
the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Planning Commission or any property
owner who would be specifically damaged by a violation is an interested
party and may take appropriate legal action to prevent or abate a
violation of this chapter.
Any person aggrieved by any decision of the
Board of Zoning Appeals, Planning Commission or County Commissioners
may appeal the same to the Circuit Court of Caroline County within
30 days of the notification of the decision.