HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_ZBA_06.21.2011Zoning Board of Adjustment Agenda, June 21, 2011 Page 1 of 2
City of Georgetown
Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting
Minutes
June 21, 2011 at 6:00 P.M.
City Council Chambers
101 E. 7th Street, Georgetown, Texas 78626
Members: Gene Facey, Chair, Dustin Elliott, Ellen Davis, Tom Crawford, Gerald
Sensabaugh. Members Absent: none
Staff Present: Elizabeth Cook, Planning Director; Valerie Kreger, Principal Planner;
Bridget Chapman, Acting City Attorney, Stephanie McNickle, Recording Secretary.
Chair Facey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
1. Action from Executive Session. There was not an executive Session.
2. Election of Vice-chair and Secretary for the 2011-2012 Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Motion by Davis to elect Board member Dustin Elliott as Vice-chair. Second by
Crawford. Approved. (5-0)
Motion by Elliott to elect Board member Ellen Davis as Secretary. Second by
Crawford. Approved. (5-0)
3. Consideration and possible action on the Minutes of the regular Board of
Adjustment meeting on January 18, 2011
Motion by Crawford to approve the January 18, 2011 minutes. Second by Elliott as
amended. Approved. (5-0)
4. Training and discussion regarding the purpose and responsibilities of the Zoning
Board of Adjustment.
Staff report by Valerie Kreger. The Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) is one of two
citizen staffed legislatively created bodies involved in municipal zoning (the
Planning and Zoning Commission is the other body). The ZBA is a Board of action
and deals with individual and neighborhood decisions on a tract-by-tract basis. The
board acts in a quasi-judicial capacity, meaning is has powers resembling those of a
court of law or judge. Appeal of any action of the ZBA must be made to a court of
law. Ms. Kreger reviewed the different types of applications and the steps staff takes
before presenting the application to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Ms. Kreger
also reviewed the staff report which includes Quorum Requirements, Voting,
Appeals, Variances, and Standards for Granting Variances, Unnecessary Hardship,
Special Exception, and the Role of Being a member of the Zoning Board of
Adjustment.
Board member Davis asked to clarify how the Board will determine “self-imposed
or self-created” application. Bridget Chapman, Acting City Attorney stated the
Board should rely on staff in gathering information and investigating to better
inform the Board to assist with making a decision. Elizabeth Cook, Community
Development Director, encouraged the Board to contact staff if they have any
questions regarding the application.
Zoning Board of Adjustment Agenda, June 21, 2011 Page 2 of 2
5. Consideration and possible action to amend the Zoning Board of Adjustment
Bylaws. The City Council has recently adopted amended bylaws for all City’s
boards and commissions, which make most provisions uniform for all groups. As
part of that process, the Board is being asked to approve the Zoning Board of
Adjustment bylaw’s as adopted by the Council.
Bridget Chapman, Acting City Attorney stated these amendments were a result of a
process whereby City Manager’s office had requested the City Legal department to
work with the City Secretary’s office to review the bylaws of the various Boards and
Commissions and to make sure the Bylaws corresponded and did not conflict with
the Ordinances, along with making sure it is consistent with other City Boards and
Commissions Bylaws.
Ms. Chapman reviewed each Article of the Zoning Board of Adjustment Bylaws
approved by City Council.
Motion by Elliott to approved the amended bylaws as presented. Second by
Crawford. Approved. (5-0)
6. Motion to adjourn. 7:16
Approved, Gene Facey, Chair Attest, Ellen Davis, Secretary