A zoning map, adopted as part of the zoning code, shows where the various zoning districts are located. The zoning districts are displayed on the Interactive Map. You can zoom in and out and move around the image.
A development agreement is a contract between a developer and the municipality that describes the rights and responsibility of the parties with regard to a development project, like a subdivision, that has received preliminary or final approval. They can address a wide range of issues, including the installation of infrastructure needed to support the project and phasing if its a large project. All development agreements are public records and can be viewed at the ____ office during normal office hours.
An easement is generally a defined area on a parcel that gives another person the right to use that area for a specific purpose. For example, a driveway easement allows a property owner to establish a driveway on another person's property for his or her benefit.
The Zoning Administrator is authorized to make various decisions which are administrative in nature. All such decisions can be appealed to the Board of Appeals. Details about the procedures and other details are posted HERE. An appeal must be made soon after the decision.
Yes; appeals are made to the circuit court and generally must be filed with the court soon after the decision has been made.
Although the Plan Commission generally makes recommendations, there are some instances where the Commission makes the final decision (e.g., sign permit and site plan reviews for non-residential uses). Those decisions can be appealed to circuit court. An appeal must be made soon after the decision has been made.
Yes; appeals are made to the circuit court and generally must be filed with the court soon after the decision has been made.
You can submit a variance without having a denial.
A public hearing is intended to allow the petitioner the opportunity to describe their proposed project and interested parties the opportunity to share their concerns with the reviewing authority. While all public comments are welcome, speakers should focus on those elements of the project that are within the review authority's scope of authority. Consistent with established policies, public comments may be limited in duration to make sure everyone can be heard.
When we receive a development application, staff will review the materials to make sure the application submittal is complete and ready for formal review. If an application submittal is not complete, staff will notify the applicant and describe the parts that are not complete.
A determination that an application is complete means the application is ready for formal review and does not suggest the applicant has provided sufficient information in all regards or preclude the reviewing authority from requesting additional information it deems appropriate.
For some types of development reviews, the Town charges the applicant for the time spent by the Town engineer, attorney, planner, or other professional in reviewing their application. In that way, Town taxpayers aren't paying for the cost of development activities. Invoices are mailed to the applicant as the Town incurs such costs.
If a person starts a regulated activity under the municipality’s land development code without approval, the application fee for submitting an application is doubled.
The zoning code authorizes the zoning administrator to issue a written interpretation when he or she is requested to do so or determines that an interpretation is needed to clarify a specific provision in the zoning code when generally applied to all situations or when applied to a particular situation. More information about this process is posted on the Procedures page.
A tax key number is an alpha-numeric code that the county assessor assigns to each parcel of land and is used for record keeping purposes. If you are filling out an application, you will need to know the tax key number of the subject property. If you are not sure, you may contact ___ for assistance.
You can stop by our office to obtain hard copies, or better yet, go to the Procedures page. The various forms are posted in the left pane. They are in a PDF format so you can view, print, and download them to your computer.
In some circumstances, a decision-making body can reconsider a prior decision provided a specific set of procedures are followed.
No. The members on the Board of Appeals are similar in many respects to a judge. They hear and evaluate evidence in a public forum and render a decision within the context of local, state, and, in some cases, federal law. This is referred to as a "quasi-judicial" decision. It is not proper for anyone - the applicant, a proponent, or an opponent - to contact a board member regarding a potential or pending application. Because these private conversations, referred to as "ex parte communication" should not occur, all parties can be assured of an unbiased proceeding, even if they do not agree with the outcome.
No. The Plan Commission cannot review concept plans. If you want feedback on a proposed project before submitting an application, you should meet with the zoning administrator who can give you his or her preliminary comments.
The short answer is that property can be subdivided so long as the parcel or parcels being created meet the requirements of the subdivision regulations (chapter 23), the zoning code (chapter 18), and all other regulations that may apply. However, there may be instances where those land use regulations preclude the creation of new lots. Some land cannot be divided because the property is too small, the land does not have a source of potable water or a means of disposing of wastewater, or the land may be located in an area where new lots should not be created, for example in the floodway of a river. As a starting point, find out how big the parcel is and the minimum lot size for the zoning district in which it is located. In any event, be sure to contact the zoning administrator for more information. If the property is located in a residential subdivision, you should also review the covenants, if any, to see if there are any private restrictions.
Yes. As the property owner you may submit an application to rezone your property. For more details on the process and basic requirements, go to the Permit Center page and select Code Amendment.
A person owning property that is subject to the zoning code can submit an application to amend the text of the zoning code. The application will need to be very specific in terms of the requested change. The procedures and requirements are listed in s. __ of the zoning code. For your convenience, we have posted some of this information on the Procedures page.
The City requires all businesses operating in the City to obtain a business license. Before applying for a license, you should verify that the proposed business is allowed where you want to be located. Use the Interactive Map to find out what land uses are allowed where. Once you are certain the use is allowed, you should call 111-222-3333 to get information about the business license.ddddd
A zoning permit is needed when any structure is erected, relocated, or altered or when a new type of land use is established on a property. For example, fences, sheds, swimming pools, building additions, driveways, and decks all require a zoning permit. If you are unsure, please contact the zoning administrator at ___.
Application fees are set by the City Council to reflect the level of review required. In a few instances, the cost to submit an application for review also requires the payment of professional charge back fees. All of the application fees are listed on a fee schedule. For your convenience, the current application fees for each of the procedures are shown on the Procedures page.
Application fees are not refundable. They are intended to cover the costs necessary to review the application.
A public official charged with making a decision regarding a specific development application is said to have a conflict of interest when it would appear that the person is not able to make an unbiased decision. If a person has a conflict of interest, he or she is required to recues himself or herself from the decision-making process.
Under state law, the Zoning Department needs to send out notices to surrounding property owners for certain kinds of development applications that are submitted for review. You can however sign up to receive email alerts for all development applications that may be of interest. Go to the eAlerts page and subscribe by submitting your email and the search circle. You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time.
