Purpose

The purpose of the Zoning Board of Adjustment is to act as an escape valve for the consideration of individual site requests for relief from the literal interpretation and enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance. The board determines if the administrative official has created an error in the interpretation and enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance. The board has the authority to grant relief to the literal enforcement of provisions of the Zoning Ordinance on a case-by-case basis provided that the board finds that the variance will be in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the zoning ordinance, will not be injurious to the neighborhood or detrimental to the public welfare, and if the applicant can demonstrate:

• That special conditions and circumstances exist which make the land, structure or building unique from others in the same district.
• That literal interpretation of the Zoning Ordinance would deprive the applicant of rights commonly enjoyed by others in the same district.
• That special conditions and circumstances do not result from the actions of the applicant. The hardship cannot be self-created.
• That granting of the variance will not confer on the applicant any special privilege that is denied by the ordinance to others in the same district.

Authority

The board also has the authority to grant a use that is not permitted by right in a zoning district, but one that the City Council has authorized the board to consider in certain districts, under certain conditions and clearly defined on the plan submitted with the application and one that is wholly compatible with the use and permitted development of adjacent properties.

The board reviews the status of nonconforming uses and permits the reconstruction of nonconforming uses, the resumption of abandoned nonconforming uses, or the discontinuance or amortization of nonconforming uses.

Finally, the board also has the authority to grant relief to the literal enforcement of provisions of the Airport Compatible Land Use Overlay Zone Zoning Ordinance on a case-by-case basis provided that the board finds that the variance will be in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the ordinance.

Meetings

• 6:30 p.m.
• Second and fourth Thursday (following the first Tuesday) of every month
• Southlake Town Hall
  1400 Main Street
• Public welcome to attend all meetings

Members

Mike Smietana, Place 1                  (term expires: June 2016) Scott Dyche, Place 2 (term expires: June 2015) Kourosh Panahy, Place 3       (term expires: June 2015)

John Huffman, Place 4  Chairman             (term expires: June 2016) Brad Cunningham, Place 5 (term expires: June 2015)        Vice Chairman  Ron Evans, Alternate No. 1 (term expires: June 2015)

Eric Ransom, Alternate No. 2 (term expires: June 2016) Vacant, Alternate No. 3 (term expires: June 2015) Vacant, Alternate No. 4         (term expires: June 2016)

Appointment Process

Members are appointed to a two-year term, unless appointed to fulfill an existing vacancy. Members serve at the will of Council and shall continue to serve until their successors are duly appointed and sworn into office. 

Residents interested in serving on this board shall complete an application and submit it to the City Secretary no later than May 5. Applications will remain on file for one year.

The City Secretary’s Office will schedule interviews with selected applicants.  Interviews will be conducted on the second Tuesday of June. Following an interview, Council will appoint members to the Zoning Board of Adjustment on the third Tuesday of June.

If you have any questions on the appointment process, please contact the City Secretary’s Office at (817) 748-8183.

Contact

For questions or more information about this board contact Planner II, Richard Schell, at (817) 748-8602.

All correspondence for the Zoning Board of Adjustment shall be sent to:
Zoning Board of Adjustment
c/o City of Southlake
1400 Main Street, Suite 310
Southlake, Texas 76092
Fax: 817-748-8077 

Agendas & Minutes

The agenda will be available by 6:00 p.m. on the Friday prior to the meeting.  View All

Minutes are available following approval.