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Springfield City Zoning Code

ADMINISTRATION AND

ENFORCEMENT

§ 156.020 REVIEW BODIES; CLARIFICATION AS TO JURISDICTION.

   (A)   Planning Commission and Administrative Official.
      (1)   Planning Commission.
         (a)   Duties and responsibilities. The duties of the Planning Commission in regard to this chapter are established by KRS Chapter 100 and include, but are not limited to:
            1.   Hold public hearings in accordance with the state statutes and make a recommendation to the City Council in regard to zoning text or map amendments, including the designation of planned unit developments (PUDs);
            2.   Review and take final action on detailed development plans;
            3.   Review and make a recommendation to the City Council in regard to the designation of local historic districts and landmarks; and
            4.   If for any reason the Board of Zoning Adjustment is unavailable to take final action on variances and conditional use permits, the Planning Commission may do so in accord with KRS Chapter 100.
         (b)   Membership. The Planning Commission shall consist of a minimum of six citizen members appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of the City Council. Should the Mayor fail to appoint within 60 days following a vacancy, the Planning Commission shall appoint a new member to fill the vacancy.
         (c)   Term of office. The term of office shall be four years ending on June 30 of the designated year. The term of all present members shall be staggered as existed at the time of the original adoption of this chapter. The Planning Commission shall otherwise be organized and operated in accordance with KRS 100.133 through 100.182.
         (d)   Jurisdiction. The area of jurisdiction of the Planning Commission, insofar as this chapter is concerned, shall include all land within the corporate boundaries of the city.
      (2)   Administrative Official.
         (a)   Duties and responsibilities. The duties of the Administrative Official, or designee, in regard to this chapter, shall include the following:
            1.   Make written interpretations of this chapter;
            2.   Serve as the Administrative Official pursuant to KRS 100.271;
            3.   Approve certain preliminary plats deemed administratively approvable, including retracement surveys;
            4.   Approve minor amendments to a PUD District;
            5.   Approve minor amendments to detailed development plans;
            6.   Review building permits and certificates of occupancy for conformance with this chapter;
            7.   Review/approval/issuance of zoning permits, and approval of proposed signage and fencing; and
            8.   Any other duties as assigned by the Planning Commission or City Council as allowed by law.
         (b)   Appointment. The Planning Commission, upon approval by the Mayor, shall designate and appoint an Administrative Official, also known as an Enforcement Officer, who may be a member of the Planning Commission, who shall be charged with and provided with the authority to enforce the ordinances, regulations and orders of the Planning Commission and to issue zoning permits and certificates of occupancy. The Administrative Official/Enforcement Officer, in the performance of his or her duties and function, may enter upon any land and make examinations and surveys that do not occasion damage or injury to private property. The Administrative Official/Enforcement Officer may perform other functions for the city such as Building Inspector.
   (B)   Board of Adjustments.
      (1)   Duties and responsibilities. The Board of Adjustments shall have powers, duties and responsibilities as set forth in KRS Chapter 100 and including, but not limited to, the following:
         (a)   Hear and decide administrative appeals where it is alleged by the appellants that there is an error in any order, requirement, permit, decision, determination or refusal made by any administrative official in carrying out or enforcing any provision of this chapter;
         (b)   To make interpretations of the official zoning map;
         (c)   To make final action on conditional uses;
         (d)   To take final action on variances; and
         (e)   To administer the non-conforming use regulations per KRS 100.253.
      (2)   Membership. The Board of Adjustments shall consist of five citizen members appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of the City Council. The Board of Adjustments membership may include not more than two members of the Planning Commission. The Mayor and/or City Council may expand the Board membership to seven members but at no time should the Board have less than three members nor more than seven, nor shall the Board have an even number of members.
      (3)   Term of office. The term of office shall be four years ending on June 30 of the designated year. The term of all present members shall be staggered so that no more than two members terms shall expire within one year. The Board of Adjustments shall otherwise be organized and operated in accordance with KRS 100.217 through 100.271.
      (4)   Jurisdiction. The area of jurisdiction of the Board of Adjustments shall include all land within the corporate boundaries of the city. The Board may only make those initial discretionary interpretations and decisions and allow only those departures from literal conformance with the zoning regulations which are specifically delegated to the Board of Adjustments.
   (C)   Building Inspector. The Building Inspector applies the provisions of the Kentucky Housing and Building Code (KHBC) and select provisions of this chapter relating to specific documents. The duties of the Building Inspector in regard to this chapter shall include the following:
      (1)   To enforce any applicable Building Code adopted by the City Council;
      (2)   To ensure building permit compliance with this chapter; and
      (3)   To take final action on all building permits and certificates of occupancy.
   (D)   Legislative body - City Council. The powers, duties and responsibilities of the City Council in regard to this chapter shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
      (1)   To take final action on any text amendment of this chapter or amendment of the official zoning map, including designation of planned unit developments (PUDs);
      (2)   To take final action on the designation of local historic districts or individual historic landmarks; and
      (3)   To concur in the appointment of Board membership as defined in this section of this chapter.
(Ord. 2024-004, passed 12-23-2024)

§ 156.021 EXEMPTION OF AGRICULTURAL USE.

   Land which is a bona fide farm and utilized for agricultural use as defined herein shall not require a zoning permit or be subject to zoning restrictions under this chapter except that:
   (A)   Setback lines may be enforced to protect existing or proposed streets and highways; and
   (B)   Buildings in designated floodways or floodplains may be fully regulated.
(Ord. 2024-004, passed 12-23-2024)