To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged by the appellant that there is an error in any order, requirement, decision or refusal made by an administrative officer based on or made in the enforcement of the zoning regulations.

To hear and decide, in accordance with the provisions of any such ordinance, requests for the interpretation of the Zoning Map or zoning regulations or for decisions upon other special questions upon which such Board is authorized to act on to effectuate the purpose of this chapter, related ordinances and the enabling Statutes.

Where, by reason of exceptional narrowness, shallowness or shape of a specific piece of property or by reason of exceptional topographic conditions or by reason of other extraordinary and exceptional situation or condition of such piece of property, the strict application of any regulation of the zoning regulations would result in peculiar and undue hardship upon the developer of such property, to grant, upon an application or an appeal relating to such property, a variance from such strict application of such regulation so as to relieve such difficulties or hardship, including a variance from the requirement to obtain conditional use approval; provided, however, that no variance shall be granted under this subsection to allow a structure or use in a district restricted against such structure or use, and provided further that the proposed development does not require approval by the Planning Board of a subdivision, site plan or conditional use in conjunction with which the Planning Board shall review the request for a variance in accordance with the applicable provisions of this chapter.

In particular cases and for special reasons, to grant a variance to allow departure from regulations pursuant to the zoning regulations, including but not limited to allowing a structure or use in a district restricted against such structure or use, but only by an affirmative vote of at least five members of the Board. No variance or other relief may be granted under the terms of this section unless such variance or other relief can be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and will not substantially impair the intent and purpose of the zone plan and zoning regulations.

To direct the issuance of a permit for a building or structure not related to a street, where the enforcement of the requirement that every lot shall abut a street giving access to such proposed building or structure would entail practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship or where the circumstances of the case do not require the building or structure to be related to a street. The Planning Board may, upon application or appeal, vary this provision and direct the issuance of a permit subject to conditions that will provide adequate access for fire-fighting equipment, ambulances and other emergency vehicles necessary for the protection of health and safety and that will protect any future street layout shown on the Official Map or on a general circulation plan element of the Borough Master Plan.

To refer an application for development before the Board to any appropriate person, agency, board, commission, committee, authority or other Borough or other governmental instrumentality for review and recommendation.

Approval in conjunction with variance application; conditions for separate approvals.

To review, recommend, report on or decide matters at formal or informal public meetings, referred to the Board by other administrative agencies as permitted or required by other ordinances or inherent powers of the Borough of Allentown.