Chattanooga City Zoning Code

The City Council has the following powers pursuant to this Code:

(a)

To make final decisions on zoning text and map amendment applications. .....

(b)

To make final decisions on planned unit developments. .....

(Ord. No. 14137, § 1, 7-23-24; Ord. No. 14138, § 1, 7-23-24)

The Planning Commission has the following powers pursuant to this Code:

(a)

To make recommendations on zoning text and map amendment applications. .....

(b)

To make recommendations on planned unit developments. .....

(Ord. No. 14137, § 1, 7-23-24; Ord. No. 14138, § 1, 7-23-24)

Membership.

The Board of Appeals, also known as the Board of Zoning Appeals and referred to in this Article as the "Board", shall consist of nine (9) members and shall be appointed by the City Council for three (3) year terms. One member shall be appointed from each City Council District. In the case of a vacancy, a member shall be appointed to serve the unexpired term of the former member creating the vacancy. A member who has served for three (3) years shall continue to serve as an official member of the Board until the member has been reappointed or a new member has been appointed to represent that District. Members of the Board shall serve without compensation.

Officers and Meetings.

A Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Board shall be elected from its own membership. A Secretary of the Board shall be provided by staff. The board shall fix its place of meeting and shall conduct at least one (1) regular meeting a month, provided there are applications to be reviewed by the Board. Other meetings of the Board shall be held upon the call of the Chairperson and at such times as the Board may determine. The presence of five (5) members shall constitute a quorum. In all other matters, the Board shall proceed according to its own rules of order for the conduct of business, such rules being of public record. The City Attorney or their designated representative shall be present at each Board meeting.

Powers.

The Board of Appeals has the following powers pursuant to this Code:

(1)

To make final decisions on any special exception request; .....

(2)

To make final decisions on any variance request; .....

(3)

To hear zoning appeals of the Director of the Land Development Office decisions; and .....

(4)

To hear zoning appeals of Sign Code decisions by the Director of the Land Development Office. .....

(Ord. No. 14137, § 1, 7-23-24; Ord. No. 14138, § 1, 7-23-24; Ord. No. 14329, § 1, 2-17-26)

The Director of the Land Development Office may designate one or more persons to act as their designee; however, a decision may only be rendered once. The Director of the Land Development Office has the following powers pursuant to this Code:

(a)

To make final decisions on administrative modifications. .....

(b)

To make final decisions on zoning interpretations, with input from Regional Planning Agency, Office of the City Attorney, and other City departments as needed. .....

(c)

To make final decisions on temporary use permits. .....

(d)

To conduct plan review for zoning compliance. .....

(Ord. No. 14137, § 1, 7-23-24; Ord. No. 14138, § 1, 7-23-24)