Board of Zoning Appeals
The Bath Township Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) consists of five regular members and two alternate members that are appointed by the Board of Trustees. Members are required to be a resident of the Township and regular members serve a five year term and alternates serve a two year term. The terms are staggered so that no two regular or alternate member appointments expire in the same year.
The BZA has the following Roles and Powers:
The Bath Township Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) consists of five regular members and two alternate members that are appointed by the Board of Trustees. Members are required to be a resident of the Township and regular members serve a five year term and alternates serve a two year term. The terms are staggered so that no two regular or alternate member appointments expire in the same year.
The BZA has the following Roles and Powers:
- The BZA shall have the authority to hear and decide appeals where it is alleged by the appellant that there is error in any order, requirement, decision, grant, or refusal made by the Zoning Inspector, other township official, or administrative body of the township in the interpretation or enforcement of the provisions of this zoning resolution.
- The BZA shall have the authority to hear and decide, in accordance with the provisions of this zoning resolution, applications filed for conditional uses, for interpretation of the zoning map, or for decisions upon other special questions on which the BZA is authorized by this zoning resolution to pass.
- In considering an application for a conditional use, the BZA shall have the power to impose such requirements and conditions with respect to location, construction, maintenance, enforcement, and operation, in addition to those expressly stipulated in this zoning resolution for the particular conditional use, as the BZA may deem necessary for the protection of adjacent properties and the public interest. The BZA shall have the power to enforce any of its decisions by requiring deed restrictions that contain the requirements and conditions for the particular use, signed by the owner of the affected property and recorded in the chain of title.
- The BZA shall have the power to authorize upon appeal in specific cases, filed as herein provided, such variances from the provisions or requirements of this zoning resolution as will not be contrary to the public interest, but only in such cases where, owing to special conditions pertaining to a specific piece of property, the literal enforcement of the provisions or requirements of this zoning resolution would cause unnecessary hardship, and so that the spirit of the resolution shall be observed and substantial justice done. The BZA may attach thereto such conditions regarding the location, character and other features of the proposed structure or use, and enforcement as it may deem necessary in the interest of the furtherance of the purposes of the zoning resolution and in the public interest. The BZA shall have the power to enforce any such variance by requiring as a condition of granting the variance, deed restrictions that contain the requirements and conditions for the variance, signed by the owner of the affected property and recorded in the chain of title.
- The BZA shall have the authority to review and provide an interpretation of the zoning map or zoning text whenever there is a question of how the zoned districts or regulations of this resolution are applied.
- The BZA shall have the authority to permit the substitution of a nonconforming use existing at the time of enactment of this resolution in compliance with Article 14: Nonconformities.
- The BZA shall have all other powers conferred upon township boards of zoning appeals in the ORC, or as authorized by the Board of Trustees in compliance with state law.