Zoneomics Logo
search icon

Delta City Zoning Code

18.14 APPEAL

AUTHORITY

18.14.010 APPOINTMENT; TERM

The Appeal Authority shall consist of:

  1. An individual or group of individuals appointed by the City Council through resolution; or
  2. In the event that no such appointment has been made, the Appeal Authority shall consist of the members of the City Council. (Ord. 18-277, 2-15-2018)

18.14.020 ORGANIZATION

  1. Chairperson; Rules: The Appeal Authority shall organize and elect a Chairperson and may adopt rules for its own proceedings as it deems necessary.
  2. Meetings: The Appeal Authority shall meet at the call of the Chairperson and at any other times that the Appeal Authority determines.
  3. Oaths; Attendance Of Witnesses: The Chairperson, or in the absence of the Chairperson, the Acting Chairperson, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses.
  4. Open Meetings: All meetings of the Appeal Authority shall comply with the requirements of Utah Code 52-4, Open and Public Meetings, or any successor statute enacted in its place.
  5. Minutes; Records: The Appeal Authority shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question, or if absent or failing to vote, indicating that fact; and keep records of its examinations and other official actions. The Appeal Authority may, but is not required to, have its proceedings contemporaneously transcribed by a court reporter or a tape recorder. The Appeal Authority shall file its records in the Office of the City Recorder, which shall be the Office of the Appeal Authority. All records in the Office of the Appeal Authority are public records.
  6. Decisions Effective When: Decisions of the Appeal Authority become effective at the meeting in which the decision is made, unless a different time is designated in the rules or at the time the decision is made. (Ord. 18-277, 2-15-2018)

18.14.030 POWERS AND DUTIES

The powers and duties of the Appeal Authority shall be as follows:

  1. Appeals: Hear and decide appeals from land use decisions applying the land use ordinance; and
  2. Variances: Hear and decide variances from the terms of the land use ordinance. (Ord. 18-277, 2-15-2018)

18.14.040 APPEALS

  1. Authority; Procedure:
    1. The applicant or any other person or entity adversely affected by a decision administering or interpreting a land use ordinance may appeal that decision applying the land use ordinance by alleging that there is error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by an official in the administration or interpretation of the land use ordinance.
    2. Any person, including any officer, department, board or bureau of the City affected by a decision administering or interpreting a land use ordinance or affected by the grant or refusal of a building permit or by any other decisions of the Land Use Authority in the administration or interpretation of the land use ordinance may appeal such decision to the Appeal Authority. An appeal must be made within thirty (30) days from the date of such decision by filing with the City Recorder a written notice of appeal specifying the grounds thereof. When an appeal is taken from a decision of the Land Use Authority, the Code Enforcement Officer shall forthwith transmit to the Appeal Authority all papers, if any, constituting the record upon which the action appealed from was taken.
    3. An appeal filed in accordance with this section stays all proceedings in the appeal action, unless the officer from whom the appeal is taken certifies to the Appeal Authority that by reason of facts stated in the certificate the stay would in his/her opinion cause imminent peril to life or property. In such cases, proceedings shall not be stayed otherwise than by restraining order which may be granted by the Appeal Authority or by the District Court on application and notice and on due cause shown.
    4. The Appeal Authority shall fix the time for hearing any appeal within thirty (30) days of the date of filing such appeal with the City Recorder and shall give public notice thereof in accordance with the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act, as well as notice to the parties in interest.
    5. Proceedings and hearings before the Appeal Authority shall be had pursuant to rules adopted by the Appeal Authority and in conformance with general principles of due process. Any party in interest may appear at such hearing in person, by agent, or by an attorney of his/her choice.
    6. The person or entity making the appeal has the burden of proving that an error has been made.
    7. The person or entity making the appeal must pay the fee as set by the fee schedule before a hearing shall be set.
  2. Permitted, Prohibited Appeals:
    1. Only decisions applying the land use ordinance may be appealed to the Appeal Authority.
    2. A person may not appeal, and the Appeal Authority may not consider, any land use ordinance amendments.
    3. The City Council shall hear and decide appeals from Planning Commission decisions regarding conditional use permits.
  3. Waivers, Modifications Not Permitted: Appeals may not be used to waive or modify the terms or requirements of the land use ordinance. (Ord. 18-277, 2-15-2018)

18.14.050 VARIANCE

Any person or entity desiring a waiver or modification of the requirements of the land use ordinance as applied to a parcel of property that he/she owns, leases, or in which he/she holds some other beneficial interest, may apply to the Appeal Authority for a variance from the terms of the land use ordinance. (Ord. 18-277, 2-15-2018)

18.14.060 STANDARDS FOR VARIANCE

  1. Conditions: The Appeal Authority may grant a variance only if each of the following conditions are met:
    1. Literal enforcement of the land use ordinance would cause an unreasonable hardship for the applicant that is not necessary to carry out the general purpose of the land use ordinance;
    2. There are special circumstances attached to the property that do not generally apply to other properties in the same district;
    3. Granting the variance is essential to the enjoyment of a substantial property right possessed by other property in the same district;
    4. The variance will not substantially affect the General Plan and will not be contrary to the public interest; and
    5. The spirit of the land use ordinance is observed and substantial justice done.
  2. Unreasonable Hardship: In determining whether or not enforcement of the land use ordinance would cause unreasonable hardship under paragraph A, the Appeal Authority may not find an unreasonable hardship unless the alleged hardship:
    1. Is located on or associated with the property for which the variance is sought; and
    2. Comes from circumstances peculiar to the property, not from conditions that are general to the neighborhood.
  3. Self-Imposed Hardship: In determining whether or not enforcement of the land use ordinance would cause unreasonable hardship under paragraph A, the Appeal Authority may not find an unreasonable hardship if the hardship is self-imposed or economic.
  4. Special Circumstances: In determining whether or not there are special circumstances attached to the property under paragraph A, the Appeal Authority may find that special circumstances exist only if the special circumstances;
    1. Relate to the hardship complained of; and
    2. Deprive the property of privileges granted to other properties in the same district.
  5. Burden Of Proof: The applicant shall bear the burden of proving all of the conditions justifying a variance have been met.
  6. Run With Land: Variances run with the land.
  7. Use Variances Not Permitted: The Appeal Authority and any other body may not grant use variances.
  8. Additional Requirements: In granting a variance, the Appeal Authority may impose additional requirements on the applicant that will:
    1. Mitigate any harmful affects of the variance; or
    2. Serve the purpose of the standard or requirement that is waived or modified. (Ord. 18-277, 2-15-2018)

18.14.070 BUILDING PERMITS

The Code Enforcement Officer shall not issue any building permit for any building, construction or repair of any building unless such fully conforms to all land use regulations and ordinances of this Municipality in effect at the time of application. No permit shall issue for any building or structure or part thereof on any land located between the mapped lines of any street as shown on any official street map adopted by the Governing Body. (Ord. 18-277, 2-15-2018)

18.14.080 NOTICE TO COUNCIL OF VARIANCE OR BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION

Before any application for a variance or building permit is heard by the Appeal Authority, the Appeal Authority shall give the City at least fifteen (15) days' notice of any hearing to consider the application. (Ord. 18-277, 2-15-2018)

18.14.090 (Reserved)

HISTORY
Amended by Ord. 2022-299 on 11/16/2022

18.14.100 APPEAL AUTHORITY DECISION ON APPEAL

In exercising the above mentioned powers, the Appeal Authority may affirm, wholly or partly, or may modify the order, requirement, decision or determination of the City land use official. (Ord. 18-277, 2-15-2018)

18.14.110 DISTRICT COURT REVIEW OF APPEAL AUTHORITY DECISION

  1. Petition: Any person adversely affected by any decision of the Appeal Authority may petition the District Court for a review of the decision pursuant to Utah Code Annotated.
  2. Allegation: In the petition, the plaintiff may only allege that the Appeal Authority's decision was arbitrary, capricious or illegal.
  3. Records Transmitted:
    1. The Appeal Authority shall transmit to the District Court the record of its proceedings, including its minutes, findings, orders and, if available, a true and correct transcript of its proceedings.
    2. If the proceeding was taped, a transcript of that tape recording is a true and correct transcript for purposes of this paragraph.
  4. Review:
    1. If there is a record, the District Court's review is limited to the record provided by the Appeal Authority.
    2. The court may not accept or consider any evidence outside the Appeal Authority's record unless that evidence was offered to the Appeal Authority and the court determines that it was improperly excluded by the Appeal Authority.
    3. If there is no record, the court may call witnesses and take evidence.
  5. Affirmation: The court shall affirm the decision of the Appeal Authority if the decision is supported by substantial evidence in the record.
  6. Stay:
    1. The filing of a petition does not stay the decision of the Appeal Authority.
      1. Before filing a petition under this section or a request for mediation or arbitration of a constitutional taking issue under Utah Code § 13-43-204, the aggrieved party may petition the Appeal Authority to stay its decision.
      2. Upon receipt of a petition to stay, the Appeal Authority may order its decision stayed pending District Court review if the Appeal Authority finds it to be in the best interest of the City.
      3. After a petition is filed under this section or a request for mediation or arbitration of a constitutional taking issue is filed under Utah Code § 13-43-204, the petitioner may seek an injunction from the District Court staying the Appeal Authority's decision. (Ord. 18-277, 2-15-2018)

18.14.120 CONFLICT WITH STATE OR FEDERAL LAW

Nothing in this chapter or in its interpretation, application or enforcement shall act or be allowed to operate in conflict with any State or Federal law. Should there be a conflict between this chapter and State or Federal law, the State or Federal law shall apply. (Ord. 18-277, 2-15-2018)

2022-299