ZBA Meeting 2.9.2022

Detailed briefing

Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting — February 9, 2022 ATTENDEES: Kim Morris, Kristin McDonald, Jeff James, John Leo, Maddie Hines, and Glenn Hunter were recorded present; Bob Thoma was recorded absent. • The board approved the previous meeting minutes. No vote count was stated in the transcript; the chair asked for those in favor and announced that the motion passed. • Glenn Hunter was formally sworn in to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Staff said he had been appointed previously but had not yet attended a meeting. Hunter said he looked forward to participating. • The board reviewed and approved amended bylaws. Staff said the update responds in part to changes in the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act and is intended to keep the board's procedures aligned with applicable requirements. • A key bylaws change consolidates separately adopted rules of operation into the bylaws document. Staff specifically identified the section on appeals of administrative decisions, including appeal timing and related procedures, as material incorporated into the revised document. • The amended bylaws will be forwarded to City Council for its review. Staff said the board typically uses its January organizational meeting to review bylaws, meeting schedules, and potential updates, though this discussion occurred at the February meeting. • Staff discussed the effect of Bob Thoma serving on both the ZBA and Planning Commission. If one board has acted on an issue and the other later considers it, staff said Thoma would not participate in the later board's discussion or vote. An appeal involving a Planning Commission-approved site plan was offered as an example of when this could occur. • Staff announced that an appeal of an administrative decision had been received that day. The board will meet in March to consider it. Staff expects a large record, including drawings, and plans to distribute PDFs while making hard copies available at City Hall for members to pick up. Worth watching: • Whether City Council approves or requests changes to the amended ZBA bylaws. • The scope and record of the newly filed administrative appeal once the March meeting packet and public notice are issued. • Whether dual-board participation requires a recusal in any future matter involving both the Planning Commission and ZBA. Upcoming: March 9, 2022 — ZBA meeting scheduled to hear the received appeal of an administrative decision. Why it matters: The bylaw update formalizes the board's operating procedures, while the March appeal will bring a substantive administrative decision before the ZBA.

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.